High temperature high pressure capsule for processing materials in supercritical fluids
First Claim
1. An apparatus, comprising:
- a deformable capsule that comprises a closed end structure, a wall, and a sealable end structure, and which defines a chamber configured to receive a material and a solvent, whereinthe wall adjoins the closed end and extends therefrom, and the sealable end structure adjoins the wall opposite the closed end structure, andthe solvent is capable of becoming supercritical at a predetermined temperature to provide a predetermined pressure in the chamber, and the predetermined pressure is greater than about 5 kbar and is sufficient to deform the capsule, whereinthe sealable end structure is operable to seal the chamber such that the capsule is impermeable to supercritical solvent at the predetermined temperature and predetermined pressure; and
a zero-stroke pressure device configured to receive the capsule and operable to counterbalance the predetermined pressure generated within the chamber by the supercritical solvent at the predetermined temperature.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A capsule for containing at least one reactant and a supercritical fluid in a substantially air-free environment under high pressure, high temperature processing conditions. The capsule includes a closed end, at least one wall adjoining the closed end and extending from the closed end; and a sealed end adjoining the at least one wall opposite the closed end. The at least one wall, closed end, and sealed end define a chamber therein for containing the reactant and a solvent that becomes a supercritical fluid at high temperatures and high pressures. The capsule is formed from a deformable material and is fluid impermeable and chemically inert with respect to the reactant and the supercritical fluid under processing conditions, which are generally above 5 kbar and 550° C. and, preferably, at pressures between 5 kbar and 80 kbar and temperatures between 550° C. and about 1500° C. The invention also includes methods of filling the capsule with the solvent and sealing the capsule, as well as an apparatus for sealing the capsule.
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Citations
50 Claims
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1. An apparatus, comprising:
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a deformable capsule that comprises a closed end structure, a wall, and a sealable end structure, and which defines a chamber configured to receive a material and a solvent, wherein the wall adjoins the closed end and extends therefrom, and the sealable end structure adjoins the wall opposite the closed end structure, and the solvent is capable of becoming supercritical at a predetermined temperature to provide a predetermined pressure in the chamber, and the predetermined pressure is greater than about 5 kbar and is sufficient to deform the capsule, wherein the sealable end structure is operable to seal the chamber such that the capsule is impermeable to supercritical solvent at the predetermined temperature and predetermined pressure; and a zero-stroke pressure device configured to receive the capsule and operable to counterbalance the predetermined pressure generated within the chamber by the supercritical solvent at the predetermined temperature. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. An apparatus, comprising:
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a first capsule that comprises a closed end structure, a wall, and a sealable end structure, and which defines a chamber, wherein the wall adjoins the closed end and extends therefrom; and the sealable end structure adjoins the wall opposite the closed end structure, and the chamber is configured to receive a material and a solvent, and the solvent is capable of becoming supercritical at a predetermined temperature to provide a predetermined pressure in the chamber; and a second capsule comprising a malleable metal and being operable to deform in response to the predetermined pressure, and the first capsule being disposed within the second capsule; and a zero-stroke pressure device configured to receive the second capsule and operable only to counterbalance the predetermined pressure generated within the chamber by the supercritical solvent at the predetermined temperature. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50)
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Specification