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US3837826A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Color sorting of irradiated quartz materials

Assignee: SAWYER RES PROD
•
Filing: 1972-11-06
•
Granted: 1974-09-24
•
Expires: 1992-11-06
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Abstract

Abstract Methods of isolating quartz, glass or silicate materials having selected aluminum contents are described. The non-destructive method comprises subjecting the materials to ionizing irradiation for a period of time and at an intensity (preferably uniform) sufficient to develop the several distinctive color centers of the materials containing aluminum ions. According to the ions associated with the aluminum ions, the depth of color of each of the various tints developed corresponds to the amount of aluminum in said crystals. The colored crystals which correspond in tint and depth of color to the aluminum contents outside the desired content can be separated. In this manner, aluminum free quartz, glass or silicate materials can be isolated if present in a mixture, or fractions of such materials can be selected, each containing uniform aluminum content.

Inventors

  • 👤 B Sawyer

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-06 16:13
CPC Classifications
B; B07; B07C; B07C5/00; B07C5/34; B07C5/346; G; G21; G21H; G21H5/00

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim 13 words
The method of claim 1 wherein either gamma-ray or X-ray irradiation is utilized.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 10 words
The method of claim 1 wherein gamma-ray irradiation is utilized.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 19 words
The method of claim 1 wherein a radiation dosage of from about 0.2 to about 10 megarads is utilized.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 21 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the material is subjected to a 1.5 to 2.5 megarad dosage of cobalt-60 gamma-ray irradiation.
Claim 5
Independent Claim 126 words
A method of distinguishing and sorting colorless and smoky quartz containing substantially no aluminum, aluminum compensated by alkali metal ions, aluminum compensated by hydrogen ions, and aluminum compensated by a mixture of alkali metal and hydrogen ions which comprises: a. subjectinG said quartz to ionizing irradiation for a period of time and at an intensity sufficient to cause the several distinctive colorations that occur in the aluminum-containing quartz, b. separating the substantially clear colorless quartz which contain substantially no aluminum, c. separating the smoky gray quartz which contain aluminum compensated by alkali metal ions, d. separating the yellow colored quartz containing aluminum compensated by hydrogen ions, and e. separating the mixed gray and yellow colored quartz which contain aluminum compensated by alkali metal and hydrogen ions.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 11 words
The method of claim 6 wherein cobalt-60 gamma-ray irradiation is utilized.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 19 words
The method of claim 6 wherein a radiation dosage of from about 1.5 to about 2.5 megarads is utilized.
Claim 8
Independent Claim 126 words
A method of separating aluminum-containing quartz crystals into fractions having substantially uniform aluminum content which comprises: a. providing quartz crystals containing some aluminum, b. subjecting the crystals to ionizing irradiation for a period of time and at an intensity sufficient to cause the distinctive smoky gray, yellow or mixed colorations of the aluminum-containing quartz crystals, c. separating the smoky gray crystals from the mixture and sorting according to the color depth of the crystals, d. separating the yellow colored crystals and sorting said yellow colored crystals according to color depth, and e. separating the crystals having a mixture of the smoky gray and honey colors and sorting said crystals into various mixed fractions each having substantially uniform color depth of the mixture of gray and yellow.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 41 words
The method of claim 9 wherein the aluminum content of each color sort obtained in steps (c), (d) and (e) is determined by analysis and color sorts having approximately equal aluminum content are combined into fractions having substantially uniform aluminum content.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

No citation records indexed.

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1977-09-23 1978-03-25 1978-09-24 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1981-09-23 1982-03-25 1982-09-24 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1985-09-23 1986-03-25 1986-09-24 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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