Methods and devices for humidity control of materials
AssigneesArtifex Equipment, Inc., The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Agriculture
InventorsNicholas G. Yeager, Kathleen C. Hayes
Life of this patent
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Abstract
This invention provides novel devices and methods for manipulation of moisture/fluid levels in and/or upon objects and is used to, e.g., safely dry wet books and documents with minimal deleterious side effects or to add humidity to such books/documents or other objects or areas.
Claims15
A method of manipulating the moisture content of one or more object, the method comprising, bringing one or more laminate construct into contact with the object for a defined period of time, wherein the laminate compnses a superabsorbent polymer (SAP) layer sealed within at least one layer of porous material;
- further wherein the object comprises a paper product, a book, paper, vellum, parchment, or a fiber-based object and wherein the laminate comprises a sheet of laminate which is intercalated between pages of the book, or pieces of the paper, vellum, parchment, or fiber-based object.
A method of producing one or more laminate device for manipulating moisture content of one or more object or area, the method comprising:
- depositing a slurry comprising water and SAP or a slurry comprising water, SAP and one or more water soluble adhesive on a first membrane of porous material;
- or, depositing a first layer comprising a slurry of water and SAP or comprising a slurry of water and a water soluble adhesive or comprising a slurry of water, SAP and a water soluble adhesive and, depositing a second layer comprising dry SAP, or a slurry of SAP and water or a slurry of SAP, water, and a water soluble adhesive on the first layer;
- placing a second membrane on the slurry or slurries on the first membrane;
- and,
- sealing the first and second membranes together, thereby constructing the laminate device.
A method of increasing the moisture content of one or more object or area, the method comprising, bringing one or more laminate construct into contact with the object or area for a defined period of time, wherein the laminate compnses a superabsorbent polymer (SAP) layer sealed within at least one layer of porous material and wherein the SAP comprises one or more fluid capable of evaporation, which evaporation thereby increases the moisture content of the one or more object or area;
- further wherein the object comprises a paper product, a book, paper, vellum, parchment, or a fiber-based object and wherein the laminate comprises a sheet of laminate which is intercalated between pages of the book, or pieces of the paper, vellum, parchment, or fiber-based object.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.