Method of reducing material size
US6663954B2 · kind B2 · utility
5Cited by
26References
29Claims
0Family size
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 24, 2002 |
| Grant date | Dec 16, 2003 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 24, 2022 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T428/31826
- WIPO fieldOther special machines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
The present invention relates to a method of reducing particle size by the use of a supercritical fluid, generally carbon dioxide. The material is swollen by the supercritical carbon dioxide at a high pressure. After the material has been allowed to swell under a high pressure, the pressure is rapidly dropped. When the external pressure is rapidly dropped, the material explodes as the supercritical gas absorbed into the material rapidly expands outward.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.