The process of electromagnetic assist impact collision (MAIC) is used to combine reactive nanoparticles with activated carbon bead to produce a multi-functional particulate. A reactive-adsorptive multi-functional protective particulate contains both chemically and biologically protective capabilities in a form whose handling during use and manufacture does not pause difficulties. The nanoparticles on the other hand are capable of reacting with the toxic excreta of microorganisms while concurrently keeping from producing oxidizing agents or other agents that are capable of polluting the activated carbon. Due to the micro size of the nanoparticles, they are best used when agglomerated into larger aggregates, in a manner that maintains their surface to volume ratio of component ions, and promotes handling in the process of manufacture (Axtell, Hartley and Sallavanti 6).
The MAIC process imbeds the surface of activated carbon beads with the smaller adsorptive or reactive nanoparticles. It is necessary to imbed nanoparticular agglomeration entities into the surface of carbon beads, where they can be held in position by the topographical imbedding in the carbon beads and the van der waals forces between the particle ions and the surface of the carbon beads proximate to the nanoparticle. For this to occur, the MAIC process uses an electromagnetically induced impaction process in combination with simultaneous sieving. The MAIC process imbeds the nanoparticulates onto the surface of the bead permanently to form a unique multi-functional particulate that is reactive-adsorptive. It is advantageous in that it combines the quick adsorptive kinetics of activated carbon with the destructive-adsorptive-biocidal qualities of reactive nanoparticle technology. What results is hybrid with a minimum of two distinct and synergistic capabilities (Axtell, Hartley and Sallavanti 7).
An example of the new features is that the beads can be incorporated into reticulated foams, permeable fabrics and filtration media, therefore protecting textiles from biological warfare agents or infectious microorganisms such as viruses, bacteria, and fungi, among others. This superior quality makes the beads ideal for military textiles. The MAIC process can be used to load nanoparticles onto the Kurha brand and Ambersorb brand carbon beads as well as the CarboTex activated carbon beads. In a much preferable embodiment whereby the MAIC treatment process is used to treat the Gentex activated carbon beads, the resulting bead advantageously boosts the combined qualities of the carbon’s hyperadsorptivity. In addition to this, it increases the chemically reactive and biocidal properties due to the imparted nanoparticular entities, in a form that promotes handling. The nanoparticles would otherwise be difficult to handle by themselves (Axtell, Hartley and Sallavanti 8).
The MAIC process requires that the activated carbon substrate used has sufficient hardness and is of appropriate size, without necessarily being spherical. A reactive-adsorptive multi-functional protective particulate may be spherical, non-spherical, a fragment or a powder. The loading or concentration of nanoparticles on the surface of the carbon can be modified to either increase or decrease particulate add-on. The reactive/adsorptive nanoparticles are permanently bonded one they are imbedded in the carbon through MAIC treatment. The treatment involves coating smaller particles onto larger particles by a peening process (Axtell, Hartley and Sallavanti 8).
By adding a smaller sized particle and a large core particle into an assembly of small oscillating magnets, the small particles are readily coated onto the larger core particles. The process is continuous, whereby the rate of separating the magnets from the products range from 100-600 pounds per hour. The MAIC process has many advantages including eliminating the requirement for adhesives. This reduces the possibility of over occlusion or undesired chemical reactions with the reactive/adsorbent nanoparticulates (Axtell, Hartley and Sallavanti 9).
Works Cited
Axtell, Holly C., Scott M. Hartley and Robert A. Sallavanti. “Multi-Functional Protective Materials and Methods for use.” United States Patent (2007): 6-9.