Apparatus and method for solidifying a material under continuous laminar shear to form an oriented film

A method of solidifying a fluid comprising a material to form an oriented film, the method comprising:

• (a) pumping the fluid into a channel at an input end thereof at a predetermined pressure sufficient to push the material to an output end of the channel, the channel being at least partially defined by a substantially smooth outer surface of an inner tube and a substantially smooth inner surface of an outer tube;
• (b) subjecting the material to laminar shear at a predetermined rate by rotating one of the inner tube and the outer tube relative to the other, said predetermined rate being selected to promote solidification of the fluid into the oriented film;
• and
• (c) cooling the material at a predetermined rate as the material moves through the channel from the input end to the output end to promote solidification of the fluid into the oriented film.

An oriented film solidified from a fluid comprising a material, the oriented film being produced by the steps of:

• (a) pumping the fluid into a channel at an input end thereof at a predetermined pressure sufficient to push the material to an output end of the channel, the channel being at least partially defined by a substantially smooth outer surface of an inner tube and a substantially smooth inner surface of an outer tube;
• (b) subjecting the material to laminar shear at a predetermined rate by rotating one of the inner tube and the outer tube relative to the other, to promote solidification of the fluid into the oriented film;
• and
• (c) cooling the material at a predetermined rate as the material moves through the channel from the input end to the output end to promote solidification of the fluid into the oriented film.

An apparatus for solidifying a fluid comprising a material to form an oriented film, the apparatus comprising:

• an inner tube substantially symmetrical with respect to an axis thereof, the inner tube comprising an outer diameter defined by a substantially smooth outer surface thereof;
• an outer tube substantially symmetrical with respect to the axis, the outer tube comprising an inner diameter defined by a substantially smooth inner surface thereof and an outer diameter defined by an outer surface thereof;
• the inner and outer tubes being positioned substantially coaxially to at least partially define a channel therebetween, the channel extending between input and output ends thereof;
• a selected one of the tubes being adapted for rotation thereof about the axis such that the selected tube is movable relative to the other of said tubes;
• the fluid being injectable into the channel at the input end under a predetermined pressure sufficient to push the material to the output end, whereby the material is subjected to laminar shear as the material moves through the channel toward the outer end due to movement of the selected tube relative to the other said tube, said laminar shear at least partially causing the fluid to solidify into the oriented film;
• and
• a heat transfer subassembly for modifying the material's temperature to promote solidification of the fluid into the oriented film.