Abstract: The present invention is directed to methods for the spray application of additive compositions containing additive materials in the manufacture of sheet material products, such as paper products, textile products, and flexible sheet products by using compressed fluids, such as carbon dioxide and ethane, as a spraying medium. Additive compositions with high viscosity and which are substantially free of water and/or volatile solvent can be applied to sheet materials. Water-borne additive compositions with reduced water content can also be applied to sheet materials. One preferred spray method uses a decompressive spray of the compressed fluid which produces a uniform spray pattern and a narrow droplet size distribution that can improve application efficiency and quality when additive compositions are applied during the spraying step to rapidly conveyed sheet materials.

Abstract: The present invention relates to precursor coating compositions which are particularly suitable for being admixed with at least one supercritical fluid used as a viscosity reduction diluent and then spraying this resultant liquid mixture of supercritical fluid and precursor coating composition onto a substrate to be coated.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to methods for spraying polymeric compositions with supercritical or subcritical compressed fluids such as carbon dioxide or ethane over a wider range of spray conditions to provide improved spray application quality with reduced emission of solvent. The methods are accomplished by using an elongated spray orifice to transform narrow, fishtail, liquid-film sprays to wider, feathered, decompressive sprays.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to methods for spraying water-borne coating compositions having at least about thirty five percent by weight of the solvent fraction by using compressed fluids such as carbon dioxide and ethane, so as to decrease runs, sags and drying time in the application of coatings.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to methods and apparatus for effectively proportionating a mixture of compressible and non-compressible fluids and in particular, the present invention is directed to apparatus and methods for forming a coating composition mixture containing a substantially accurate proportionated amount of at least one supercritical fluid used as a viscosity reduction diluent.

Abstract: Methods are presented by which compressed fluids such as carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, and ethane can be admixed with solvent-borne compositions that contain a high concentration of solid polymer, such as coating compositions, whereby precipitation of the solid polymer can be avoided, thereby preventing plugging of the mixing apparatus.

Abstract: The application contains subject matter related to cleaning mixtures and methods for using such cleaning mixtures to clean apparatus which contain one or more polymeric compounds wherein said cleaning mixture is comprised of at least one compressed fluid and at least one active solvent in which said at least one or more polymeric compounds are at least partially soluble and which is at least partially miscible with the at least one compressed fluid, said compressed fluid being a gas at standard conditions of 0.degree. C. and one atmosphere (STP), which cleaning mixture is in one phase and at a pressure at which the cleaning mixture is substantially near its two phase region.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to methods and apparatus for effectively proportionating a mixture of compressible and non-compressible fluids and in particular, the present invention is directed to apparatus and methods for forming a coating composition mixture containing a substantially accurate proportionated amount of at least one supercritical fluid used as a viscosity reduction diluent.

Abstract: Methods are presented by which polymeric compositions, such as coating compositions, can be sprayed with compressed fluids, such as carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, or ethane, at higher solids levels and with finer atomization to give improved spray application quality with reduced emission of solvent.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for spraying a solvent-borne composition with reduced emission of organic solvents by exchanging a portion of the organic solvent diluent with a compressed fluid such as carbon dioxide, by adding the compressed fluid under pressure to maintain low viscosity and to facilitate solvent separation, separating a portion of the organic solvent, and spraying the resulting composition with compressed fluid.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method and system for proportionating, mixing, pressurizing, heating and supplying a coating formulation, wherein a microporous membrane injector/mixer located in the relevant section of the system so that undesirable precipitation of solid polymer from the coating formulation is subsequently avoided.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for economically and effectively using a portion of a liquified compressed gas feedstock, such as liquid carbon dioxide, as a refrigerant to cool said liquified compressed gas feedstock so as to prevent cavitation and liquid compressibility when pumping such feedstock are disclosed.

Abstract: An electrostatic liquid coatings application process and apparatus is provided in which supercritical fluids, such as supercritical carbon dioxide fluid, are used to reduce to application consistency viscous coatings compositions to allow for their application as liquid sprays. The coatings compositions are sprayed by passing the composition under pressure through an orifice into the environment of the substrate. The liquid spray is electrically charged by applying a high electrical voltage relative to the substrate and electric current.

Abstract: A liquid coatings application process and apparatus is provided in which supercritical fluids, such as supercritical carbon dioxide fluid, are used to reduce to application consistency viscous coatings compositions to allow for their application as liquid sprays. The coatings compositions are sprayed by passing the composition under pressure through an orifice into the environment of the substrate.

Abstract: This invention is directed to an improved spray apparatus and corresponding methods for coating substrates with a coating material and a supercritical fluid or a subcritical compressed fluid, which apparatus is provided with an airless spray nozzle that produces a spray with reduced average velocity thereby minimizing the undesirable excessive momentum of the spray as well as the sideways deflection of the spray that occurs as it impacts of substrate. The spray nozzle is comprised of an elongated orifice passageway having a length sufficiently long in relation to the equivalent diameter so as to reduce the average spray velocity of the coating material.

Abstract: This invention is directed to improved spraying apparatus for coating substrates with a coating material and supercritical fluid which apparatus is provided with various features, either alone or in combination, to prevent undesirable premature cooling of the coating mixture which might detrimentally affect the final coating on the substrate; to prevent undesirable depressurization of supercritical fluid contained in the coating mixture which remains in the spray gun after spraying has been stopped; and/or to desirably provide the ability to mix the components of the coating mixture directly in the spray gun. Methods for utilizing these features in the spraying apparatus of the present invention are also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to processes and apparatus in which supercritical fluids are used as viscosity reduction diluents for liquid fuels or waste materials which are then spray atomized into a combustion chamber. The addition of supercritical fluid to the liquid fuel and/or waste material allows viscous petroleum fractions and other liquids such as viscous waste materials that are too viscous to be atomized (or to be atomized well) to now be atomized by this invention by achieving viscosity reduction and allowing the fuel to produce a combustible spray and improved combustion efficiency. Moreover, the present invention also allows liquid fuels that have suitable viscosities to be better utilized as a fuel by achieving further viscosity reduction that improves atomization still further by reducing droplet size which enhances evaporation of the fuel from the droplets.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to methods and apparatus for spraying liquid compositions by airless spray techniques which avoid fishtail spray patterns and desirably obtain feathered spray patterns through use of spraying coating formulations which contain supercritical fluid.

Abstract: A liquid coatings application process and apparatus is provided in which supercritical fluids, such as supercritical carbon dioxide fluid, are used to reduce to application consistency viscous coatings compositions to allow for their application as liquid sprays. The coatings compositions are sprayed by passing the composition under pressure through an orifice into the environment of the substrate.

Abstract: A process for the electrostatic liquid spray application of coatings to a substrate is disclosed. The process comprises forming a liquid mixture in a closed system comprising at least one polymeric component capable of forming a coating on the substrate and a solvent component consisting essentially of supercritical carbon dioxide in at least an amount which when added to the polymeric component is sufficient to render the viscosity of the mixture to a point suitable for spray application. The liquid mixture is then sprayed onto a substrate to form a liquid coating by passing the mixture under pressure through an orifice into the environment of the substrate to form a liquid spray, while negatively electrically charging the liquid mixture by a high electrical voltage relative to the substrate and electric current by electrical discharge from at least one external electrode located near the orifice and close to the spray.