Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
163 words
A process for the production of an expandable silicone resin containing powder comprising: heating a silicone resin having a formula of: R n SiO 4-n/2 where R is selected from the group consisting of methyl, ethyl, vinyl and phenyl radicals and n has an average value of from 1 to 1.5 inclusive, to a temperature to condense the latent water into free water until approximately 20% to 70% of the latent water has been condensed and evaporated to effect an increase in molecular weight of the silicone resin; blending a particulate inert filler and a blowing agent in an environment in which the blowing agent does not generate substantial amounts of gas with the silicone resin to form a mixture, the blending of the blowing agent and inert filler with the resin being either separately or simultaneously; cooling the mixture to a solidified mass; reducing the solidified mass into a powder which expands when heated above the gas-generating temperature of the blowing agent.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
163 words
A process for the production of an expandable silicone resin containing powder comprising: heating a silicone resin having a formula of: R n SiO 4-n/2 where R is selected from the group consisting of methyl, ethyl, vinyl and phenyl radicals and n has an average value of from 1 to 1.5 inclusive, to a temperature to condense the latent water into free water until approximately 20% to 70% of the latent water has been condensed and evaporated to effect an increase in molecular weight of the silicone resin; blending a particulate inert filler and a blowing agent in an environment in which the blowing agent does not generate substantial amounts of gas with the silicone resin to form a mixture, the blending of the blowing agent and inert filler with the resin being either separately or simultaneously; cooling the mixture to a solidified mass; reducing the solidified mass into a powder which expands when heated above the gas-generating temperature of the blowing agent.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
The process of claim 1 wherein R is methyl and phenyl substituents in a mole ratio of approximately 0.67/1 to 1.5/1.0, phenyl/methyl.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
11 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the filler is diatomaceous earth.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
The process of claim 3 wherein the diatomaceous earth has a pH of approximately 7.0.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
The process of claim 1 and further including coating the inert filler with a cross-linking catalyst.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
34 words
The process of claim 5 and further including cooling the resin after initially heating and reducing in size the resin to a powdered form and dry blending the catalyst-coated filler with the powdered resin.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
The process of claim 6 and further including dry blending the blowing agent and the resin and the catalyst-coated inert filler to form a mixture.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
31 words
The process of claim 7 and further including fusing the mixture by heating to a temperature above the melting point of the resin but less than the blowing agent's gas-generating temperature.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
23 words
The process of claim 7 wherein the temperature for fusing the blend is approximately in the range of 240° F. to 270° F.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
11 words
The process of claim 5 wherein the catalyst is choline octoate.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
13 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the blowing agent is dinitroso pentamethylene tetramine.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
23 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the silicone resin is initially heated to approximately 350° F.±5° F. for approximately 10 to 90 minutes.