IMPROVED MATERIALS

• US 20120168698A1
• Filed: 09/17/2010
• Published: 07/05/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/18/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CCM Research Limited
• Original Assignee: CCM Research Limited
• Inventors: Hammond, Peter
• Granted Patent: US 9,446,985 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 252/601
• CPC Class Codes: C04B 18/24 Vegetable refuse, e.g. rice husks, maize-ear refuse; Cellulosic materials, e.g. paper , cork
• CPC Class Codes: C04B 18/26 Wood, e.g. sawdust, wood shavings
• CPC Class Codes: C04B 20/04 Heat treatment
• CPC Class Codes: C04B 20/1018 with organic materials pigments or dyes C04B20/1096
• CPC Class Codes: C04B 20/104 Natural resins, e.g. tall oil
• CPC Class Codes: C04B 20/107 Acids or salts thereof
• CPC Class Codes: C04B 20/12 Multiple coating or impregnating
• CPC Class Codes: C04B 2103/63 Flame-proofing agents
• CPC Class Codes: Y02W 30/91 Use of waste materials as fillers for mortars or concrete

Abstract

The present invention relates to materials having improved and useful properties and to methods relating to the manufacture of said materials. In particular the present invention relates to a method of modifying the surface of a material, preferably a fibrous material, to enable carbon dioxide to be carried by the surface. The carbon dioxide may be bound to the surface in a reversible or irreversible manner. The method of treating the surface of a material comprises (a) contacting the surface of the material with a composition comprising an amino compound; and (b) contacting the surface of the material with a composition comprising carbon dioxide or a source thereof.

Claims

1. A method of treating the surface of a material, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) contacting the surface of the material with a composition comprising an amino compound; and

(b) contacting the surface of the material with a composition comprising carbon dioxide or a source thereof.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the material is a carbon-containing material.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the material treated invention is a fibrous material.

4. The method as claimed in claim 3, wherein the material comprises natural fibres.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the material treated is a cellulosic material.

6. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein step (b) is carried out after step (a).

7. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the amino compound is selected from a group consisting of:

ammonia and an amine.

8. The method as claimed in claim 7, wherein the amine is a substituted or unsubstituted aliphatic amine or alkanolamine.

9. The method as claimed in claim 6, wherein the composition used in step (a) is a liquid composition comprising a solution of the amine in a solvent.

10. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the method includes a pre-treatment step prior to step (a), wherein the pre-treatment step involves heating the material.

11. The method as claimed in claim 10, wherein the pre-treatment step involves contacting the material with superheated water.

12. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein step (b) comprises contacting the material with the composition and then initiating precipitation from said composition onto the surface of the material.

13. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the method further comprises contacting the material with one or more benefit agents.

14. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein step (b) comprises contacting the material with a composition comprising superheated water having dissolved therein carbon dioxide and one or more benefit agents, and wherein the deposition of the carbon dioxide and/or one or more benefit agents onto the surface of the material may be initiated by a drop in pressure and/or a drop in temperature and/or a change in pH.

15. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the treated material contains a mass of carbon dioxide in excess of a calculated mass of carbon dioxide based on a reaction between the amine and the carbon dioxide.

16. A material having at least one surface treated according to a method comprising:

(a) contacting the at least one surface with a composition comprising an amino compound; and

(b) contacting the at least one surface with a composition comprising carbon dioxide or a source thereof.

18. The material of claim 16 suitable for use as a building block or as a filler in concrete, wherein the treated material contains a mass of carbon dioxide in excess of a calculated mass of carbon dioxide based on a reaction between the amine and the carbon dioxide.

19. The material of claim 16 suitable for use as an electrical or thermal insulator, wherein the treated material contains a mass of carbon dioxide in excess of a calculated mass of carbon dioxide based on a reaction between the amine and the carbon dioxide.

20. The material of claim 16 suitable for use as a flame retardant, wherein the treated material contains a mass of carbon dioxide in excess of a calculated mass of carbon dioxide based on a reaction between the amine and the carbon dioxide.

17. (canceled)

21. A fibrous product treated with an amino compound and packaged, stored or transported, for later treatment with carbon dioxide or a source thereof.