Particle size reduction using supercritical materials
US6680110B1 · kind B1 · utility
11Cited by
33References
26Claims
0Family size
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 8, 2000 |
| Grant date | Jan 20, 2004 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 26, 2021 |
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 gas, such as carbon dioxide or a refrigerant. The material is swollen by the supercritical gas 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.