Composition for use in a magnetically fluidized bed

Claim 2

As a composition of matter, a particulate material which can be oriented within, and formed into a magnetically stabilized fluidized bed to provide high magnetization at a low applied field which comprises particles of geometrically elongate shape which have a major axis at least 1.2 times the length of the minor axis, the particles being of average diameter (minor axis) ranging from about 10 μm to about 4000 μm and contain a nonferromagnetic component, composited with a single elongated ferromagnetic component, the ferromagnetic component being multidomain, having dimensions of at least 1 μm in all directions, and having a length:diameter (L/D) ratio of at least 2 but not more than 17.3, the nonferromagnetic component, being comprised of alumina within which the ferromagnetic component is dispersed as an inclusion within the interior of the composite particles and aligned with the major axis of said particles, the ferromagnetic component constituting at least 0.5%, but not more than 3/2(L/D) 2 , of the total volume of each particle, where the L/D ratio is the ratio of the longest dimension of the ferromagnetic component relative to the shortest dimension, and the particles can, in said magnetically stabilized fluidized bed rotate, or turn to line up the long dimesion of the ferromagnetic component parallel to the direction of the field and a short dimension perpendicular to the direction of the field, wherein a catalytically effective amount of a catalytically active metal is dispersed on the surface of the composite particles and the composite particles are catalytically active.

Claim 3

The composition of claim 1 wherein the ratio of the major axis:minor axis of a composite particle ranges from about 1.4:1 to about 10:1.

Claim 4

The composition of claim 1 wherein the ratio of the major axis:minor axis of a composite particle ranges from about 1.5:1 to about 5:1.

Claim 5

The composition of claim 1 wherein the ferromagnetic component is contained in the composite in concentration ranging from about 5 percent to about 37.5 percent of the total volume of each particle.

Claim 6

The composition of claim 4 wherein the length:diameter ratio of a ferromagnetic component ranges no higher than about 5.5:1.

Claim 7

The composition of claim 1 wherein the length:diameter ratio of a ferromagnetic component ranges no higher than about 5.5:1.

Claim 8

As a composition of matter, a particulate material which can be oriented within, and formed into a magnetically stabilized fluidized bed to provide high magnetization at a low applied field which comprises particles of geometrically elongate shape which have a major axis at least 1.2 times the length of the minor axis, the particles being of average diameter (minor axis) ranging from about 10 μm to about 4000 μm and contain a nonferromagnetic component, composited with a plurality of elongated ferromagnetic components, the ferromagnetic components being multidomain, having dimensions of at least 1 μm in all directions, elongated in one direction, and having a length:diameter (L/D) ratio of at least 2 but not more than 19.5, the nonferromagnetic component being comprised of alumina within which said ferromagnetic components are dispersed as inclusions within the interior of the composite particles and aligned with the major axis of said particles, the ferromagnetic components being oriented with their long dimensions essentially parallel, the ferromagnetic components constituting at least 0.5 percent, but not more than 2π/3(L/D+1) 2 of the total volume of each particle, where L/D is the average ratio of the longest dimension of a ferromagnetic inclusion relative to the shortest dimension, and, in said magnetically stabilized fluidized bed, the particles can rotate, or turn to line up said ferromagnetic inclusions essentially parallel to the direction of the field, wherein a catalytically effective amount of a catalytically active metal is dispersed on the surface of the composite particles, and the composite particles are catalytically active.

Claim 9

As a composition of matter, a particulate material which can be oriented within, and formed into a magnetically stabilized fluidized bed to provide high magnetization at a low applied field which comprises particles of geometrically elongate shape which have a major axis at least 1.2 times the length of the minor axis, the particles being of average diameter (minor axis) ranging from about 10 μm to about 4000 μm and contain a nonferromagnetic component, composited with a plurality of elongated ferromagnetic components, the ferromagnetic components being multidomain, having dimensions of at least 1 μm in all directions, elongated in one direction, and having a length:diameter (L/D) ratio of at least 2 but not more than 19.5, the nonferromagnetic component being comprised of alumina within which said ferromagnetic components are dispersed as inclusions within the interior of the composite particles and aligned with the major axis of said particles, the ferromagnetic components being oriented with their long dimensions essentially parallel, the ferromagnetic components constituting at least 0.5 percent, but not more than 2π/3(L/D+1) 2 of the total volume of each particle, where L/D is the average ratio of the longest dimension of a ferromagnetic inclusion relative to the shortest dimension, and, in said magnetically stabilized fluidized bed, the particles can rotate, or turn to line up said ferromagnetic inclusions essentially parallel to the direction of the field, wherein a catalytically effective amount of a catalytically active metal is dispersed on the surface of the composite particles, and the composite particles are catalytically active.

Claim 10

The composition of claim 7 wherein the ratio of the major axis:minor axis of a composite particle ranges from about 1.4:1 to about 10:1.

Claim 11

The composition of claim 7 wherein the ratio of the major axis:minor axis of a composite particle ranges from about 1.5:1 to about 5:1.

Claim 12

The composition of claim 7 wherein the volume of the ferromagnetic components elongated in one direction contained in the composite constitute about 5 percent, but not more than 23.3 percent of the total volume of each particle.

Claim 13

The composition of claim 10 wherein the length:diameter ratio of the ferromagnetic components elongated in one direction range no higher than about 5.5.