Richard J. Munz

Research interests and projects

Research interests

My main research area is thermal plasma technology i.e. the application of electric arcs to physical treatments and chemical processing at high temperatures. The applications include synthesis of advanced materials and the recycling or destruction of hazardous waste materials. In addition to the study of specific plasma processes, our group has developed special expertise in understanding and reducing electrode erosion in gas heater torches. Past projects include the following:

• production of ferroalloys using transferred arc systems
  
• gasification and processing of hydrocarbons and peat
  
• applications of plasma spout fluid beds to extractive metallurgy and synthesis
  
• vitrification of nuclear wastes
• production of fumed silica
• production of ultrafine aluminum nitride
• scaleup of plasma reactors for the production of ultrafine particles
• plasma assisted incineration for the destruction of toxic wastes
• transferred arc treatment of lithium ion battery waste
• treatment of sludges from the aeronautics industry using transferred arc technology

Current and future projects include:

• effect of electrode microstructure on erosion in plasma torches
• design and modelling of transferred arc reactors for the production of ultrafine particles
• transferred arc production of fumed silica; rheological properties
• production of nano-phase materials for fuel cell electrodes using suspension plasma spraying
• production of nano-phase materials from gaseous precursor using induction plasma

Specialized laboratory facilities

CRTP McGill has three laboratories with total area of 250 sq. metres including some high headroom space. Specialized equipment includes the following:

• 60 kW Tekna Plasma Inc system for particle synthesis and fundamental studies
• Jobin-Yvon THR-1000 (1 m focal length) monochromator for spectroscopy, equipped with a 1800 lines/mm grating, a Princeton Instr. diode array and photomultplier
• Installed power 150 kW for DC plasma systems
• Multiple transferred arc reactors for ultrafine particle synthesis and materials treatment
• Laser Doppler Anemometry
• 2 reactors for magnetically rotating arc electrode erosion experiments
• Profilometer - to quantify surface roughness for such diverse materials as electronic components, plasma torch electrodes etc.
• BET, mercury porosimetry,
• TSI mobility particle size analyzer for nanoparticle size analysis
• Cascade impactor
• Optical and two-wave length pyrometers

Collaborators

Industrial Collaborators

• Sitec Sec.
• Tekna Plasma Inc.

Academic research collaborators:

• Prof D. Berk (McGill)
• Prof J.-L. Meunier (McGill)
• Prof E.D. Salin (McGill, Chemistry)
• Prof M.I. Boulos (U. de Sherbrooke)
• Prof F. Gitzhofer (U. de Sherbooke)
• Prof R.N. Szente (U. of Sao Paulo, Brazil)
• Prof H. Sekiguchi (Tokyo Institute of Technology)

Research Group (staff and students)

• Ian CASTILLO (BEng, MEng McGill University): Thesis Topic
  Production of nano/micro SOFC electrolyte materials using rf thermal plasma from liquid precursors.
• Frédéric MARION (BSc, Université de Montréal, MSc, INRS-EMT) :Thesis Topic
  Production of nano-particles in an induction plasma system: control of particle size, size distribution, and agglomeration
• Lakshminarayana RAO M.P. (BEng, Siddaganga Insitute of Technology, Bangalore University, M. Sc. Eng. Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, India ): Thesis Topic
  Effect of microsctructure on the erosion of plasma torch electrodes
• Ramona TURCU (BSc, “Al.I.CUZA” University, Romania):Thesis Topic
  Production of fumes silica in a transferred arc plasma: rheological properties.