Patent US4820752A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4820752A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Process for incorporating an additive into a polymer and product produced thereby
Assignee: Noveon IP Holdings Corp
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Filing: 1987-06-17
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Granted: 1989-04-11
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Expires: 2007-06-17
Abstract
Abstract A process is described for infusing an additive into a polymer using a compressed fluid that is normally a gas at room temperature and pressure. The additive must have some degree of solubility in the compressed fluid and the solution of compressed fluid and additive must have some degree of solubility in the polymer. In accordance with the process, the solution of the normally gaseous fluid and additive and the polymer are brought into contact under pressure until a desired quantity of the solution is absorbed into the polymer. The compressed fluid then is diffused from the polymer leaving additive infused within the polymer. The process can be used, for example, to add a colorant to a polymer or to add a biocide, insect repellant, medication or other additives to a polymer for subsequent sustained release, or to introduce monomer and a polymerization initiator into a polymer for subsequent polymerization.
Inventors
- 👤 Alan R. Berens
- 👤 Gary S. Huvard
- 👤 Richard W. Korsmeyer
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 22:06
CPC Classifications
C; C08; C08J; C08J3/00; C08J3/20; C08J3/205; C08J3/2053
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 40
Claim 1
Independent Claim
170 words
A process for infusing into a rubber or plastic polymeric material a normally solid or liquid additive that has a degree of solubility in said polymeric material when said polymeric material is in a swollen state which process comprises: (a) dissolving said additive in a compressed normally gaseous fluid solvent that has a boiling point when measured at atmospheric pressure (14.7 psia, 101.3 kPa) below room temperature (22° C.) to form a solution, said compressed fluid solvent having a density of at least 0.01 g/cc and said solution of said compressed 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
170 words
A process for infusing into a rubber or plastic polymeric material a normally solid or liquid additive that has a degree of solubility in said polymeric material when said polymeric material is in a swollen state which process comprises: (a) dissolving said additive in a compressed normally gaseous fluid solvent that has a boiling point when measured at atmospheric pressure (14.7 psia, 101.3 kPa) below room temperature (22° C.) to form a solution, said compressed fluid solvent having a density of at least 0.01 g/cc and said solution of said compressed 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 3
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 4
Dependent Claim
35 words
The process of claim 2 wherein said pressure is reduced to a pressure below the pressure that is 10% of the saturated vapor pressure of said fluid solvent at the temperature of said fluid solvent.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
13 words
The process of claim 2 wherein said pressure is reduced to ambient pressure.
Claim 6
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 7
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 8
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 9
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 10
Dependent Claim
13 words
The process of claim 7 wherein said pressure is reduced to ambient pressure.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
12 words
The process of claim 1 wherein said fluid solvent is carbon dioxide.
Claim 12
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 13
Dependent Claim
171 words
The polymeric product derived from the infusion into a rubber or plastic polymeric material of a normally solid or liquid additive that has a degree of solubility in said polymeric material when said polymeric material is in a swollen state which infusion is obtained by: (a) dissolving said additive in a compressed normally gaseous fluid solvent which has a boiling point measured at atmospheric pressure (14.7 psia, 101.3 kPa) below room temperature (22° C.) and which is compressed to a density of at least 0.01 g/cc 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 material; (b) contacting said solution of said compressed fluid solvent and said additive with said polymeric materials 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 14
Dependent Claim
171 words
The polymeric product derived from the infusion into a rubber or plastic polymeric material of a normally solid or liquid additive that has a degree of solubility in said polymeric material when said polymeric material is in a swollen state which infusion is obtained by: (a) dissolving said additive in a compressed normally gaseous fluid solvent which has a boiling point measured at atmospheric pressure (14.7 psia, 101.3 kPa) below room temperature (22° C.) and which is compressed to a density of at least 0.01 g/cc 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 material; (b) contacting said solution of said compressed fluid solvent and said additive with said polymeric materials 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 15
Dependent Claim
10 words
The polymeric product derived from the process of claim 2.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
10 words
The polymeric product derived from the process of claim 3.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
10 words
The polymeric product derived from the process of claim 4.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
10 words
The polymeric product derived from the process of claim 5.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
10 words
The polymeric product derived from the process of claim 6.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
10 words
The polymeric product derived from the process of claim 7.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
10 words
The polymeric product derived from the process of claim 8.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
10 words
The polymeric product derived from the process of claim 9.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
31 words
The process of claim 1 wherein said polymeric material is rubber or plastic polymer capable of being swollen at least 2 percent by volume by said compressed normally gaseous fluid solvent.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
20 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the solubility of said additive in said polymeric material is at least 0.1 percent.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
10 words
The polymeric product derived from the process of claim 21.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
10 words
The polymeric product derived from the process of claim 22.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
31 words
The process of claims 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 21, or 22 in which said fluid solvent has a density of at least 0.1 g/cc.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
23 words
The polymeric product derived from the process of claim 1 in which said fluid solvent has a density of at least 0.1 g/cc.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
23 words
The polymeric product derived from the process of claim 2 in which said fluid solvent has a density of at least 0.1 g/cc.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
23 words
The polymeric product derived from the process of claim 3 in which said fluid solvent has a density of at least 0.1 g/cc.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
23 words
The polymeric product derived from the process of claim 4 in which said fluid solvent has a density of at least 0.1 g/cc.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
23 words
The polymeric product derived from the process of claim 5 in which said fluid solvent has a density of at least 0.1 g/cc.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
23 words
The polymeric product derived from the process of claim 6 in which said fluid solvent has a density of at least 0.1 g/cc.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
23 words
The polymeric product derived from the process of claim 7 in which said fluid solvent has a density of at least 0.1 g/cc.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
23 words
The polymeric product derived from the process of claim 8 in which said fluid solvent has a density of at least 0.1 g/cc.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
23 words
The polymeric product derived from the process of claim 9 in which said fluid solvent has a density of at least 0.1 g/cc.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
23 words
The polymeric product derived from the process of claim 10 in which said fluid solvent has a density of at least 0.1 g/cc.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
23 words
The polymeric product derived from the process of claim 11 in which said fluid solvent has a density of at least 0.1 g/cc.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
23 words
The polymeric product derived from the process of claim 21 in which said fluid solvent has a density of at least 0.1 g/cc.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
23 words
The polymeric product derived from the process of claim 22 in which said fluid solvent has a density of at least 0.1 g/cc.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4598006A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1992-04-10 | 1992-10-10 | 1993-04-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1996-04-10 | 1996-10-10 | 1997-04-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2000-04-10 | 2000-10-10 | 2001-04-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |