Method of monitoring solidification of a liquid composition
AssigneeThe Board of Regents of the University of Washington
InventorMartin A. Afromowitz
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Reference materials of differing indices of refraction or acoustic impedances are incorporated into liquid compositions to monitor the solidification process of these liquid compositions. Light or acoustic waves are used to indirectly measure the difference between the index of refraction or acoustic impedance of the solidfying composition and the reference material. The method provides an accurate in situ indication of the completion of the solidification process as well as a monitor of the degree of solidification during the solidification process.
Claims8
A method of monitoring a process wherein a liquid composition passes from a liquid phase to a solid phase comprising the steps:
- (a) dispersing particles having an acoustic impedance Z.sub.1 in the liquid composition having an acoustic impedance Z.sub.2, such that Z.sub.1 and Z.sub.2 are unequal, the solid phase of the liquid composition having an acoustic impedance Z.sub.3 that is substantially equal to Z.sub.1 ;
- (b) providing a solidifying composition by subjecting the liquid composition containing the particles to conditions that cause the liquid composition to solidify;
- (c) introducing acoustic waves into the solidifying composition containing the particles;
- and
- (d) detecting the introduced acoustic waves scattered by the particles.
A method of monitoring a process wherein a liquid composition passes from a liquid phase to a solid phase comprising the steps:
- (a) passing an acoustical waveguide having an acoustic impedance Z.sub.1 and including the liquid composition in a solid phase through the liquid composition having an acoustic impedance Z.sub.2, such that Z.sub.2 is less than Z.sub.1, the solid phase of the liquid composition having an acoustic impedance Z.sub.3, such that Z.sub.3 substantially equals Z.sub.1 ;
- (b) subjecting the liquid composition containing the acoustical waveguide to conditions that cause the liquid composition to solidify;
- (c) transmitting acoustic waves through the acoustical waveguide;
- and
- (d) detecting the intensity of acoustic waves transmitted through the portion of the acoustical waveguide passing through the solidifying composition, the intensity of acoustic waves transmitted through the acoustical waveguide decreasing as the degree of solidification increases, completion of the solidification of the liquid composition being indicated by a substantial absence of any detectable intensity of acoustic waves being transmitted by the acoustical waveguide through the solidifying composition.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.