Internally replenished enclosure

Abstract

Internally replenished gas-containing enclosures and methods of internally replenishing an enclosure are described.

1 . An internally replenished enclosure comprising a first gas having an initial partial pressure in the enclosure, and a replenishing gas source internal to the enclosure, the gas source comprising the first gas contained within a permeable membrane. 
   
   
       2 . The enclosure of  claim 1 , wherein the permeable membrane comprises at least one of glass, ceramic, or a combination thereof. 
   
   
       3 . The enclosure of  claim 2 , wherein the permeable membrane further comprises at least one of a metal and a metal oxide. 
   
   
       4 . The enclosure of  claim 1 , wherein the permeable membrane comprises a metal, a metal oxide, or a combination thereof. 
   
   
       5 . The enclosure of  claim 1 , wherein the permeable membrane comprises a polymeric film and at least one of a metal and a metal oxide. 
   
   
       6 . The enclosure of  claim 1 , wherein the gas is an inert gas. 
   
   
       7 . The enclosure of  claim 1 , wherein the gas is a reactive gas. 
   
   
       8 . The enclosure of  claim 1 , wherein the gas source comprises a plurality of bubbles; wherein a bubble comprises the permeable membrane surrounding a cavity containing the first gas. 
   
   
       9 . The enclosure of  claim 8 , wherein the plurality of bubbles comprises substantially spherical bubbles 
   
   
       10 . The enclosure of  claim 8 , wherein the plurality of bubbles has
 (a) a distribution of membrane thicknesses;   (b) a distribution of diameters; or   (c) a combination thereof.   
   
   
       11 . The enclosure of  claim 8 , wherein the plurality of bubbles has a median diameter of less than 500 μm. 
   
   
       12 . The enclosure of  claim 8 , wherein the plurality of bubbles has an average membrane thickness of less than 20 microns. 
   
   
       13 . The enclosure of  claim 8 , wherein the plurality of bubbles has an average membrane thickness of 0.05 to 5 microns and a median diameter of less than 100 μm 
   
   
       14 . The enclosure of  claim 13 , wherein the plurality of bubbles comprises substantially spherical bubbles. 
   
   
       15 . The enclosure of  claim 1 , wherein the gas source has a replenishment rate sufficient to maintain the partial pressure of the first gas at least 75% of the initial partial pressure of the first gas for a duration of at least two years.