Abstract: A semi-aqueous method for extracting a substance. The method involves combining a first liquid or solid substance containing an extract with a semi-aqueous solution containing a water-soluble or water-emulsifiable (WSWE) compound. Said WSWE compound selectively dissolves extract during a dense phase CO2 expansion and salting-out process, which is simultaneously co-extracted using said dense phase CO2, and desolvated to produce a CO2 salted-out solvent mixture containing extract. Said CO2 salted-out solvent mixture is treated using various secondary processes. The present invention is useful for producing extracts for use as additives in pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals, cosmetics, beverages, or foods, and for quantitative analysis.

Abstract: An electrostatic spray application apparatus and method for producing an electrostatically charged and homogeneous CO2 composite spray mixture containing an additive and simultaneously projecting at a substrate surface. The spray mixture is formed in the space between CO2 and additive mixing nozzles and a substrate surface. The spray mixture is a composite fluid having a variably-controlled aerial and radial spray density comprising pressure- and temperature-regulated propellant gas (compressed air), CO2 particles, and additive particles. There are two or more circumferential and high velocity air streams containing passively charged CO2 particles which are positioned axis-symmetrically and coaxially about an inner and lower velocity injection air stream containing one or more additives to form a spray cluster.

Abstract: This application presents a method and apparatus for cooling a through-ported cutting tool with a source of liquid CO2 with a compressed air line with a compressed air inlet and multiple CO2 injection capillary segments; the capillary segments interconnect to the same source of liquid CO2 and can have high pressure valves and throttles; the throttles have different sizes; a first capillary ends near the cutting tool; the second capillary ends near the compressed air inlet. Using a particular sequence of opening or closing the valves to the liquid CO2 to the capillaries, mixing with the compressed air provides and recycling the residual CO2, this invention provides for uniform and controlled cooling of the cutting tool within a certain temperature range.

Abstract: An electrostatic spray application apparatus and method for producing an electrostatically charged and homogeneous CO2 composite spray mixture containing an additive and simultaneously projecting at a substrate surface. The spray mixture is formed in the space between CO2 and additive mixing nozzles and a substrate surface. The spray mixture is a composite fluid having a variably-controlled aerial and radial spray density comprising pressure- and temperature-regulated propellant gas (compressed air), CO2 particles, and additive particles. There are two or more circumferential and high velocity air streams containing passively charged CO2 particles which are positioned axis-symmetrically and coaxially about an inner and lower velocity injection air stream containing one or more additives to form a spray cluster.

Abstract: The present invention describes a chemically-assisted machining process that converts conventional lubricant chemistries to produce reactive oxygenated species that accelerate the formation of friction-reducing boundary layer lubrication during cutting operations—termed “Ozonolytic Machining”. The new type of cooling-lubricant chemistry is based on chemical reactions between unsaturated bio-based oils and alcohols, and other types of machining lubricants, containing carbon-carbon double or triple bonds, with ozone gas to form variously reacted or polymerized ozonides—termed “super-oxygenated fluids, oils or alcohols, aldehydes or ketones,” “sulfurized ozonides” and “super-oxygenated gels.

Abstract: This application presents a method and apparatus for cooling a through-ported cutting tool with a source of liquid CO2 with a compressed air line with a compressed air inlet and multiple CO2 injection capillary segments; the capillary segments interconnect to the same source of liquid CO2 and can have high pressure valves and throttles; the throttles have different sizes; a first capillary ends near the cutting tool; the second capillary ends near the compressed air inlet. Using a particular sequence of opening or closing the valves to the liquid CO2 to the capillaries, mixing with the compressed air provides and recycling the residual CO2, this invention provides for uniform and controlled cooling of the cutting tool within a certain temperature range.

Abstract: An electrostatic spray application apparatus and method for producing an electrostatically charged and homogeneous CO2 composite spray mixture containing an additive and simultaneously projecting at a substrate surface. The spray mixture is formed in the space between CO2 and additive mixing nozzles and a substrate surface. The spray mixture is a composite fluid having a variably-controlled aerial and radial spray density comprising pressure- and temperature-regulated propellant gas (compressed air), CO2 particles, and additive particles. There are two or more circumferential and high velocity air streams containing passively charged CO2 particles which are positioned axis-symmetrically and coaxially about an inner and lower velocity injection air stream containing one or more additives to form a spray cluster.

Abstract: A method for simultaneously ablating and functionalizing a portion of a polymeric ophthalmic substrate surface, comprising the following steps: applying a CO2 particle spray against an unreacted portion of the substrate surface; and simultaneously projecting at least one source of ionizing-heating radiation into said CO2 particle spray flowing against said unreacted portion of the substrate surface, thus intersecting and mixing together to form an instantaneous surface treatment composition of ionizing-heating radiation and CO2 particle spray flowing against the substrate surface, and to form and remove a reacted portion of the substrate surface.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for machining a superhard substrate comprising: a means for pre-cooling a non-aqueous cutting fluid at a temperature below 20 degrees C. and at atmospheric pressure to form a subcooled cutting fluid; a capillary tube injector, which saturates said subcooled cutting fluid with the solid and gas carbon dioxide; an inline static mixer for combining said subcooled cutting fluid and said solid and gas carbon dioxide; a spray application tool for applying said carbon dioxide saturated subcooled cutting fluid to the superhard substrate during a machining process; and a recovering apparatus for collecting said residual cutting fluid from the machined superhard substrate; said recovering apparatus can comprise a carbon dioxide spray cleaning, a liquid carbon dioxide immersion cleaning, or a supercritical carbon dioxide cleaning.

Abstract: A method for simultaneously ablating and functionalizing a portion of a substrate surface, comprising the following steps: applying a CO2 particle spray against an unreacted portion of the substrate surface; and simultaneously projecting at least one source of ionizing-heating radiation into said CO2 particle spray flowing against said unreacted portion of the substrate surface, thus intersecting and mixing together to form an instantaneous surface treatment composition of ionizing-heating radiation and CO2 particle spray flowing against the substrate surface, and to form and remove a reacted portion of the substrate surface.

Abstract: A method of forming a machining spray for treating a surface of a substrate during a machining process includes providing a first component containing solid carbon dioxide particles. A second provided component is derived from an inert gas having a temperature range from 305 K to about 477 K prior to being mixed with the solid carbon dioxide particles. The first component and the second component are combined to form the cryogenic fluid composition prior to contacting the substrate. An optional additive may be mixed with the solid carbon dioxide particles or the inert gas. The cryogenic fluid composition exhibits synergistically enhanced physicochemical properties of each component not observed prior to the combination thereof, wherein the fluid imparts enhanced cooling, heating or lubrication effects.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for mixing within a rotary union of a computer numerical control machine a constant pressure gas with a relatively higher-pressure, lower-temperature dense fluid to produce a dense isobaric fluid deliverable through a rotating tool without gelling or solidifying therein. The constant pressure gas may include carbon dioxide, nitrogen, air or mixtures thereof. The dense fluid preferably includes liquid carbon dioxide at or above its triple point. The liquid carbon dioxide and isobaric gas are independently fed to the rotary union. When mixed, a pressurized flowing carbon dioxide machining fluid composition is formed exhibiting a temperature between about 20° F. and 70° F. at pressures between 75 psi and 1,000 psi.

Abstract: The present invention is a method, process and apparatus for selective cleaning, drying, and modifying substrate surfaces and depositing thin films thereon using a dense phase gas solvent and admixtures within a first created supercritical fluid anti-solvent. Dense fluids are used in combination with sub-atmospheric, atmospheric and super-atmospheric plasma adjuncts (cold and thermal plasmas) to enhance substrate surface cleaning, modification, precision drying and deposition processes herein. Moreover, conventional wet cleaning agents such as hydrofluoric acid and ammonium fluoride may be used with the present invention to perform substrate pre-treatments prior to precision drying and cleaning treatments described herein. Finally, dense fluid such as solid phase carbon dioxide and argon may be used as a follow-on treatment or in combination with plasmas to further treat a substrate surface.

Abstract: A method of forming and delivering a carbonated machining fluid to be used in a machining process, the machining process including a tool contacting a substrate, comprises supplying a pressure vessel with a non-carbonated machining fluid and non-supercritical carbon dioxide. The machining fluid and carbon dioxide are allowed to admix such that at least a portion of the carbon dioxide dissolves into the machining fluid to form the carbonated machining fluid. The carbonated machining fluid is then delivered under pressure from the vessel to an applicator and applied to the tool or the substrate to impart cooling and lubricating effects.

Abstract: A method of forming a machining spray for treating a surface of a substrate during a machining process includes providing a first component containing solid carbon dioxide particles. A second provided component is derived from an inert gas having a temperature range from 305 K to about 477 K prior to being mixed with the solid carbon dioxide particles. The first component and the second component are combined to form the cryogenic fluid composition prior to contacting the substrate. An optional additive may be mixed with the solid carbon dioxide particles or the inert gas. The cryogenic fluid composition exhibits synergistically enhanced physicochemical properties of each component not observed prior to the combination thereof, wherein the fluid imparts enhanced cooling, heating or lubrication effects.

Abstract: A method of forming a plasma to physicochemically modify properties of a fluid spray in a substrate treatment processes includes providing an applicator in proximity to the substrate. The applicator comprises an electrically insulated main body portion containing a cavity, a tube axially positioned within the cavity for transporting a first fluid, an annular electric-field generator positioned within the cavity between the main body portion and the tube, a region between the tube and the generator for transporting a second fluid, and a nozzle connected to the main body portion for mixing the first fluid with the second fluid to form the fluid spray. The tube, the nozzle or the substrate are selectively grounded. Upon activating the electric-field generator, plasma is formed within the tube or about the region between the tube and the generator when the tube is grounded, within the nozzle when the nozzle is grounded or between the nozzle and the substrate when the substrate is grounded.

Abstract: A method of forming a plasma to physicochemically modify properties of a fluid spray in a substrate treatment processes includes providing an applicator in proximity to the substrate. The applicator comprises an electrically insulated main body portion containing a cavity, a tube axially positioned within the cavity for transporting a first fluid, an annular electric-field generator positioned within the cavity between the main body portion and the tube, a region between the tube and the generator for transporting a second fluid, and a nozzle connected to the main body portion for mixing the first fluid with the second fluid to form the fluid spray. The tube, the nozzle or the substrate are selectively grounded. Upon activating the electric-field generator, plasma is formed within the tube or about the region between the tube and the generator when the tube is grounded, within the nozzle when the nozzle is grounded or between the nozzle and the substrate when the substrate is grounded.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to a method and apparatus to produce and apply a variety of surface cleaning and modification spray treatments. More specifically, the present invention provides the simultaneous steps of selectively removing one or more unwanted surface contaminants, including extremely hard coatings, exposing a native clean surface layer and modifying said exposed and cleaned native substrate surface layer to energetic radicals and radiation to improve adhesion, wettability or coatability. Reactive species in combination with non-reactive, but chemically or physically active, species provide a reaction control and surface treatment environment by which contaminants and surface interlayers are oxidatively, physically and/or chemically removed or modified to prepare an underlying substrate surface for subsequent bonding, deposition, coating and curing operations. Substrates treated in accordance with the present invention have cleaner and higher surface free energy surfaces.

Abstract: A hamstring exercise apparatus preferably includes a frame provided with a seat section, handle bars, rear axle, rear wheels and swiveling front wheels. The seat section is mounted at a front end of the frame such that the frame is provided with a first opening intermediately disposed between the rear axle and the seat section for receiving user feet therethrough while the user is seated on the seat section and facing the rear end of the frame. Such a frame is further provided with a second opening intermediately disposed between the handle bars. The second opening receives the user feet therethrough while the user is seated on the seat section and facing the front end of the frame. Such first and second openings are advantageously provided for providing room for feet or foot placement and leg movements as the hamstring exercise apparatus is propelled forward during use.

Abstract: The present invention is an apparatus and process for cleaning substrates using fluids, including dense fluids. A perforated centrifuge drum operates within a pressure vessel. A dense fluid cleaning and management system including suitable process condition sensors provides for exchanging fluid with the pressure vessel.