Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
201 words
A method for preparing an inorganic sulfide material consisting essentially of (a) heating at temperatures between about 800° and 1200° C. a mixture consisting essentially of (i) at least one member of the group consisting of oxidic materials of calcium, strontium and combinations thereof and (ii) a reactive sulfurizing flux which yields alkali metal sulfides and polysulfides upon heating and which is molten between about 800° and 1200° C. and consists essentially of (I) sulfur in elemental form, or as a sulfide of an alkali metal, or a thiosulfate of an alkali metal, and (II) at least one alkali metal as a compound thereof, said compound being thiosulfate, or a carbonate or a hydroxide, said at least one alkali metal being a member selected from the group consisting of sodium, potassium and combinations of at least two of sodium, potassium and lithium, said heating being continued until said flux melts, reacts with said oxidic material and the mixture forms into a molten mass, (b) cooling said mass to about room temperature whereby relatively water-insoluble particles of said inorganic sulfide material crystallize in a relatively water-soluble matrix, (c) dissolving said matrix with water and (d) collecting particles of said inorganic sulfide material.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
201 words
A method for preparing an inorganic sulfide material consisting essentially of (a) heating at temperatures between about 800° and 1200° C. a mixture consisting essentially of (i) at least one member of the group consisting of oxidic materials of calcium, strontium and combinations thereof and (ii) a reactive sulfurizing flux which yields alkali metal sulfides and polysulfides upon heating and which is molten between about 800° and 1200° C. and consists essentially of (I) sulfur in elemental form, or as a sulfide of an alkali metal, or a thiosulfate of an alkali metal, and (II) at least one alkali metal as a compound thereof, said compound being thiosulfate, or a carbonate or a hydroxide, said at least one alkali metal being a member selected from the group consisting of sodium, potassium and combinations of at least two of sodium, potassium and lithium, said heating being continued until said flux melts, reacts with said oxidic material and the mixture forms into a molten mass, (b) cooling said mass to about room temperature whereby relatively water-insoluble particles of said inorganic sulfide material crystallize in a relatively water-soluble matrix, (c) dissolving said matrix with water and (d) collecting particles of said inorganic sulfide material.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method defined in claim 1 wherein said at least one alkali metal consists of up to about 50 mol percent lithium and the balance at least one of sodium and potassium.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method defined in claim 1 wherein said reactive flux consists essentially of sodium thiosulfate.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method defined in claim 1 wherein said reactive flux consists essentially of sulfur and sodium carbonate.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method defined in claim 1 wherein said group of oxidic materials consists essentially of oxides and compounds which decompose to oxides upon heating at temperatures up to 800° C.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method defined in claim 1 wherein said oxidic material consists substantially entirely of calcium oxide.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method defined in claim 1 wherein said mixture includes also (iii) a source of activator cations for said sulfide material, and at least some of said activator cations are incorporated into said sulfide material to render said sulfide material luminescent.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method defined in claim 7 wherein said activator cations are cerium cations.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method defined in claim 7 wherein said activator cations are europium cations.