Ultra fine and nanometer powders and a method of producing same are
provided, preferably refractory metal and ceramic nanopowders. When
certain precursors are injected into the plasma flame in a reactor
chamber, the materials are heated, melted and vaporized and the chemical
reaction is induced in the vapor phase. The vapor phase is quenched
rapidly to solid phase to yield the ultra pure, ultra fine and nano
product. With this technique, powders have been made 20 nanometers in
size in a system capable of a bulk production rate of more than 10
lbs/hr. The process is particularly applicable to tungsten, molybdenum,
rhenium, tungsten carbide, molybdenum carbide and other related
materials.