Process for impregnating corks
OwnerOtto Berkerinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A process for impregnating corks, in such a way as to improve the sealing effect thereof, with at least one substance which is repellent to aqueous solutions and which is comparable or identical to aqueous solution-repellent substances naturally occurring in cork, in regard to sealing effect and compatibility with the material to be sealed in a container by the cork, provides that prior to the impregnation step on a surface thereof which is to be impregnated the cork is exposed to direct current corona discharge or an alternating current corona discharge, thereby enhancing the capacity of the cork to absorb the impregnation agent.
Claims32
A process for impregnating a cork for a bottle containing an alcoholic drink to improve the long term sealing effect of said cork with said bottle, said process comprising spacing a generally uniform sealing surface of said cork a predetermined distance of up to 150mm from a corona discharge electrode;
- exposing said sealing surface of said cork to a corona discharge of predetermined voltage having a maximum of 500 KV for a period up to 30 seconds;
- and impregnating said cork to a predetermined depth of between 1mm and 4mm by contact with at least one aqueous solution repelling substance compatible with said alcoholic drink in said bottle selected from the group consisting of saturated and unsaturated fatty acids which occur naturally in cork, primary alcohols having 20 to 26 carbon atoms, alkanes having 16 to 34 carbon atoms, and fats and oils with a melting point not more than 90.degree. C. and a kinematic viscosity of up to 30,000 mm.sup.2 /sec at impregnation step temperature;
- said impregnating step occuring prior to the cork returning to its non-impregnable condition and said contact with said aqueous solution repelling substance occuring for a length of time of between 2 and 60 seconds.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.