Treatment of elastomeric materials with supercritical co2

Abstract

A process for treating elastomeric materials with supercritical COsuch that they can be used or reused as intended prior to exposure to supercritical CO. The process includes the following steps: (a) loading the elastomeric materials into a vessel and closing the vessel; (b) introducing COinto the vessel and creating a supercritical COenvironment within the vessel; (c) subjecting the elastomeric materials contained within the vessel to the supercritical COenvironment for a predetermined period of time; (d) after the predetermined period of time introducing an inert gas under controlled pressure into the vessel to force the supercritical COout of the vessel; (e) continuing introducing inert gas until the supercritical COhas been exhausted from the vessel; maintaining the inert gas within the vessel at least 1,500 psi to create an inert gas environment within the vessel to subject the elastomeric materials contained within the vessel to the inert gas environment for a time period sufficient to penetrate the elastomeric materials; (f) depressurizing the vessel to 0 psi by exhausting the inert gas from the vessel; and optionally including the step of filling the vessel with an inert gas under pressure prior to step (b) introducing COinto the vessel and creating a supercritical COenvironment within the vessel.