Appeal 2006-2729
Application 10/193,363
Claims 1, 10, 15, 18, and 19 illustrate Appellants’ invention of a
process for the preparation of nanoscale particulate material and certain
products of that process, and are representative of the claims on appeal:
1. A process for the preparation of nanoscale particulate material
comprising
(i) combining one or more functional material to be precipitated as
nanoscale particles and one or more surface active material in a compressed
CO2 phase with a density of at least 0.1g/cc, where the functional material is
substantially insoluble in the compressed CO2 in the absence of the
surfactant, the surfactant comprises a compressed CO2-philic portion and a
functional material-philic portion, and the compressed CO2 phase, functional
material and surfactant interact to form an aggregated system having a
continuous compressed CO2 phase and a plurality of aggregates comprising
surfactant and functional material molecules of average diameter less than
10 nanometers dispersed therein; and,
(ii) rapidly depressurizing the compressed CO2 phase thereby
precipitating the dispersed functional and surfactant materials in the form of
composite particles of average diameter from 0.5 to less than 10 nanometers.
10. A process according to claim 1, wherein the functional material is
selected from the group consisting of organic, inorganic , metallo-organic,
polymeric, oligomeric, metallic, alloy, ceramic, a synthetic and/or natural
polymer, and a composite or mixture thereof.
15. A process according to claim 1, wherein the precipitated
nanoscale material exhibits fluid-like properties and has a viscosity in the
range 0.1 centipoise to 1010 centipoise.
18. A nanofluid obtained by the process of claim 15.
19. A nanofluid according to claim 18, wherein the functional and
surfactant materials have been precipitated in the form of composite particles
of average diameter from 0.5 to 5 nanometers.
The Examiner relies on the evidence in these references:
Hendrickson US 5,030,669 Jul. 9, 1991
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