Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
122 words
A process for infusing an additive into a polymeric material which comprises: (a) dissolving said additive in a compressed normally gaseous fluid solvent to form a solution, said fluid solvent having a density of at least 0.1 g/ml and said solution of said fluid solvent and said additive being soluble in said polymeric material and being capable of swelling said polymeric material; (b) contacting said solution of said compressed normally gaseous fluid solvent and said additive with said polymeric material for a time sufficient to allow at least a part of said solution to be absorbed by said polymeric material; and (c) separating at least essentially all of said fluid solvent from said polymeric material leaving additive infused within said polymeric material.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
37 words
The process of claim 1 wherein said fluid solvent is separated from said polymeric material by reducing the pressure maintained on said solution absorbed within said polymeric material causing said fluid to diffuse from said polymeric material.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
35 words
The process of claim 2 wherein said pressure is reduced to a pressure below the pressure that is 50% of the saturated vapor pressure of said fluid solvent at the temperature of said fluid solvent.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
13 words
The process of claim 2 wherein said pressure is reduced to ambient pressure.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
The process of claim 1 wherein said solution is maintained at a temperature below a temperature which is objectionably detrimental to said polymeric material or said additive.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
78 words
The process of claim 5 wherein said solution is maintained at a pressure that is at least 50% of the saturated vapor pressure of the said fluid solvent at the temperature of infusion when the temperature of infusion is at or below the critical temperature of said fluid solvent and at a pressure 0.5 to 5 times the critical pressure of said fluid solvent when the temperature of infusion is above the critical temperature of said fluid solvent.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
37 words
The process of claim 6 wherein said fluid solvent is separated from said polymeric material by reducing the pressure maintained on said solution absorbed within said polymeric material causing said fluid to diffuse from said polymeric material.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
35 words
The process of claim 7 wherein said pressure is reduced to a pressure below the pressure that is 50% of the saturated vapor pressure of said fluid solvent at the temperature of said fluid solvent.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
13 words
The process of claim 7 wherein said pressure is reduced to ambient pressure.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
12 words
The process of claim 1 wherein said fluid solvent is carbon dioxide.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
30 words
The process of claim 1 wherein said additive is comprised of at least two components, one of which is a monomer and the other of which is a polymerization initiator.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
120 words
The polymeric product derived from the infusion of an additive into a polymeric material by: (a) dissolving said additive in a compressed normally gaseous fluid solvent compressed to a density of at least 0.1 g/ml to form a solution, said solution of said fluid solvent and said additive being soluble in said polymeric material and being capable of swelling said polymeric materials; (b) contacting said solution of said compressed fluid solvent and said additive with said polymeric material for a time sufficient to allow at least a part of said solution to be absorbed by said polymeric material; and (c) separating at least essentially all of said fluid solvent from said polymeric material leaving additive infused within said polymeric material.