Method and apparatus for fabricating fibers and microstructures from disparate molar mass precursors
US11499230B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 8, 2021 |
| Grant date | Nov 15, 2022 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 8, 2041 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC D)Textiles; Paper
- CPC primaryD01D5/34
- WIPO fieldSurface technology, coating
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
The disclosed methods and apparatus improve the fabrication of solid fibers and microstructures. In many embodiments, the fabrication is from gaseous, solid, semi-solid, liquid, critical, and supercritical mixtures using one or more low molar mass precursor(s), in combination with one or more high molar mass precursor(s). The methods and systems generally employ the thermal diffusion/Soret effect to concentrate the low molar mass precursor at a reaction zone, where the presence of the high molar mass precursor contributes to this concentration, and may also contribute to the reaction and insulate the reaction zone, thereby achieving higher fiber growth rates and/or reduced energy/heat expenditures together with reduced homogeneous nucleation. In some embodiments, the invention also relates to the permanent or semi-permanent recording and/or reading of information on or within fabricated fibers and microstructures. In some embodiments, the invention also relates to the fabrication of certain functionally-shaped fibers and microstructures. In some embodiments, the invention may also utilize laser beam profiling to enhance fiber and microstructure fabrication.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.