Controlled Pressure Release Vessel for Microwave Assisted Chemistry

A controlled release and self-resealing vessel assembly for high pressure microwave assisted chemistry, said vessel assembly comprising:

• a cylindrical reaction vessel formed of a material that is substantially transparent to microwave radiation, said vessel having annular walls, one closed end for retaining reactants in the lower portions of said vessel and one open end that defines a mouth for said vessel;
• said mouth of said cylinder having a lip that is beveled inwardly from said open end at an angle of between 10 and 20 degrees;
• a microwave-transparent solid floating plug for closing said mouth of said reaction vessel, said plug having a frustum portion for engaging said beveled lip when said plug is placed in said mouth of said vessel and for maximizing the radial force exerted by said plug against said vessel when said vessel and plug expand upon heating while still providing the opportunity for pressure release;
• and
• a flexible threaded lid and a threaded outer wall of said reaction vessel that engage one another to urge said plug into said mouth and for exerting a defined axial force against said plug for sealing said plug in said open end of said cylinder with said frustum engaging said lip;
• a microwave transparent rack for holding said vessel in an upright position inside a microwave cavity;
• and
• an opening defined by said rack and surrounding said vessel, said opening having a diameter substantially the same as the outer diameter of said threaded lid to thereby restrain expansion of said lid under heat or pressure.