Linear substrate infusion compartment

Abstract

A process of applying a fluid containing one or more additives to a surface of a linear substrate in a linear compartment. The process includes passing the linear substrate through first and second seals of the linear compartment, contacting the linear substrate with the fluid within a chamber within the linear compartment while an exposure gap has a first length that is greater than zero, the contacting being conducted for a time with the fluid at a temperature. The linear compartment is dimensionally reconfigurable, optionally during an infusion process.

1 . A process of applying a fluid to a surface of a linear substrate in a linear compartment, the process comprising:
 defining an exposure gap between first and second seals along an axial length of the linear compartment;   passing the linear substrate through first and second seals of the linear compartment; and   contacting the linear substrate with the fluid within a chamber within the linear compartment while the exposure gap has the first length that is greater than zero, the contacting being conducted for a time with the fluid at a temperature,   wherein the time and the temperature are sufficient to apply the fluid to at least an outer surface of the linear substrate, and   wherein the exposure gap is adjustable from a length of zero to greater than zero.   
     
     
         2 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the linear compartment comprises an inner processing vessel and an outer processing vessel, the inner processing vessel and the outer processing vessel forming a nested arrangement along the axial length of the compartment, the inner processing vessel being axially moveable relative to the outer processing vessel to define the exposure gap. 
     
     
         3 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the linear substrate is a polymeric linear substrate. 
     
     
         4 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the contacting further comprises infusing a component of the fluid into an the outer surface of the linear substrate. 
     
     
         5 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the time is from 3 to 6 seconds. 
     
     
         6 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the time is from 0.01 seconds to one minute. 
     
     
         7 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the temperature is below a melting temperature of the linear substrate. 
     
     
         8 . The process of  claim 3 , wherein the temperature is above a glass transition temperature of the polymeric linear substrate. 
     
     
         9 . The process of  claim 1 , Wherein the temperature is from 60 degrees Celsius to 98 degrees Celsius. 
     
     
         10 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the temperature is from 81 degrees Celsius to 91 degrees Celsius. 
     
     
         11 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the fluid contains a dye. 
     
     
         12 . A process of applying a fluid to a surface of a linear substrate in a linear compartment, the process comprising:
 defining an exposure gap between first and second seals along an axial length of the linear compartment;   passing the linear substrate through first and second seals of a linear compartment; and   contacting the linear substrate with the fluid within the chamber of the processing barrel while the exposure gap has the first length that is greater than zero, the contacting being conducted for a time with the fluid at a temperature,   wherein the time and the temperature are sufficient to apply the fluid to at least an outer surface of the linear substrate, and   wherein the linear compartment comprises an inner processing vessel and an outer processing vessel, the inner processing vessel and the outer processing vessel forming a nested arrangement along the axial length of the compartment, the inner processing vessel being axially moveable relative to the outer processing vessel to define the exposure gap.   
     
     
         13 . The process of  claim 12 , wherein the linear substrate is a polymeric linear substrate. 
     
     
         14 . The process of  claim 12 , wherein the contacting further comprises infusing a component of the fluid into an the outer surface of the linear substrate. 
     
     
         15 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the time is from 0.01 seconds to one minute. 
     
     
         16 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the temperature is below a melting temperature of the linear substrate. 
     
     
         17 . The process of  claim 13 , wherein the temperature is above a glass transition temperature of the polymeric linear substrate. 
     
     
         18 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the temperature is from 60 degrees Celsius to 98 degrees Celsius. 
     
     
         19 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the fluid contains a dye.