Abstract:
The invention is a method of perfusing a material, such as wood, with a chemical composition that is insoluble in a given first fluid under supercritical conditions. A cosolvent is mixed with the first solvent to provide adequate solubility at supercritical conditions for the chemical composition. The method is useful for uniformly impregnating otherwise difficulty permeable materials. Impregnation of lumber or structural timbers with a preservative would be a typical use of the method.
Abstract:
A system for coating discontinuous fibers with a liquid coating material uses a hopper/blender (20) which entrains the fiber particles in a toroidal mass of moving fibers. The hopper/blender has an inverted conical section with an agitator assembly (50') rotated therein. The agitator assembly has a base disc with tubular blades projecting outwardly therefrom into the conical section. Aft swept lifter blades relative to the direction of rotation are mounted to the agitator disc. A method of applying a liquid coating material to discontinuous fibers is also disclosed.