An apparatus and process for creating uniformly sized, spherical nanoparticles from a solid target. The solid target surface is ablated to create an ejecta event containing nanoparticles moving away from the surface. Ablation may be caused by laser or electrostatic discharge. At least one electromagnetic field is placed in front of the solid target surface being ablated. The electromagnetic field manipulates at least a portion of the nanoparticles as they move away from the target surface through the electromagnetic field to increase size and spherical shape uniformity of the nanoparticles. The manipulated nanoparticles are collected.

A fused deposition modeling printer comprises a reservoir for raw material, heating head assembly and a feeding conduit connecting the reservoir to the heating head. The heating head defines a sealed enclosure and comprises a conduit comprising a conduit surface for guiding a flow of material therein; an electrically conductive layer providing an electric resistance along the conduit surface for heating the material onto molten material; an electrolysis component located in the conduit distant from the conduit surface, comprising an electrolysis electrode; a nozzle through which exits the molten material from the heating head; an exhaust outlet for discharging gas resulting from the electrolysis out of the heating head; and a feeding conduit connecting the reservoir to the heating head. The fused deposition modeling printer is adapted to perform at the same time material deposition and electrolysis of the molten material.

A fused deposition modeling printer comprises a reservoir for raw material, heating head assembly and a feeding conduit connecting the reservoir to the heating head. The heating head defines a sealed enclosure and comprises a conduit comprising a conduit surface for guiding a flow of material therein; an electrically conductive layer providing an electric resistance along the conduit surface for heating the material onto molten material; an electrolysis component located in the conduit distant from the conduit surface, comprising an electrolysis electrode; a nozzle through which exits the molten material from the heating head; an exhaust outlet for discharging gas resulting from the electrolysis out of the heating head; and a feeding conduit connecting the reservoir to the heating head. The fused deposition modeling printer is adapted to perform at the same time material deposition and electrolysis of the molten material.

Provided are a compound, including metal atoms for forming metal nano particles through a simple process within a short time at a low production cost for commercial purposes, and a solution including the compound.

Provided are a compound, including metal atoms for forming metal nano particles through a simple process within a short time at a low production cost for commercial purposes, and a solution including the compound.

A magnetic refrigeration material includes an alloy represented by a composition formula of La(Fe, Si).sub.13H, and the alloy includes α-Fe by a weight ratio lower than 1 wt % and a plurality of pores so that a packing fraction of the alloy is within a range from 85% to 99%.

Examples for refining the microstructure of metallic materials used for additive manufacturing are described herein. An example can involve generating a first layer of an integral object by heating a metallic material to a molten state such that the metallic material includes a solid-liquid interface. The example can further involve applying an electromagnetic field or vibrations to the metallic material of the first layer. In some instances, the electromagnetic fields or vibrations perturb the first layer of metallic material causing nucleation sites to form at the solid-liquid interface of the metallic material in the molten state. The example also includes generating a second layer coupled to the first layer of the integral object. Generating the second layer increases a number of nucleation sites at the solid-liquid interface of the metallic material in the molten state. Each nucleation site can grows a crystal at a spatially-random orientation.

Examples for refining the microstructure of metallic materials used for additive manufacturing are described herein. An example can involve generating a first layer of an integral object by heating a metallic material to a molten state such that the metallic material includes a solid-liquid interface. The example can further involve applying an electromagnetic field or vibrations to the metallic material of the first layer. In some instances, the electromagnetic fields or vibrations perturb the first layer of metallic material causing nucleation sites to form at the solid-liquid interface of the metallic material in the molten state. The example also includes generating a second layer coupled to the first layer of the integral object. Generating the second layer increases a number of nucleation sites at the solid-liquid interface of the metallic material in the molten state. Each nucleation site can grows a crystal at a spatially-random orientation.

According to one embodiment, a material feeding device includes a feeding unit. The feeding unit includes an electrode unit electrically chargeable by application of voltage thereto and an insulating unit covering the electrode unit, the electrode unit being configured to attract and separate a material to and from a surface of the insulating unit by control of a charged state of the electrode unit.

According to one embodiment, a material feeding device includes a feeding unit. The feeding unit includes an electrode unit electrically chargeable by application of voltage thereto and an insulating unit covering the electrode unit, the electrode unit being configured to attract and separate a material to and from a surface of the insulating unit by control of a charged state of the electrode unit.