Storage and delivery systems for colloidal dispersions

Abstract

The present disclosure provides methods for stabilizing a colloidal dispersion during transport for low defect tolerance applications. The methods involve eliminating fluid interfaces within a dispersion, storing the dispersion in an environment of inert gas, and degassing the dispersion. Several bottle closure devices are described which may be ideal for use with these methods, being able to seal a container filled with a dispersion, permit the removal of headspace and rapidly empty the contained dispersion. In one aspect, the device includes a vented cap and semi-permeable membrane, which allows the passage of gas into and out of the container, and a dispenser nozzle integrated with the device to allow a stored dispersion to be dispensed without removing the device from the container. In another aspect, the bottle closure device includes an attachment point for a removable downtube and dispenser nozzle.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A storage and delivery system for a colloidal dispersion, comprising:
 a storage vessel;   a bottle closure device having an access port; and   an access port closure mechanism;   wherein said bottle closure device seals said storage vessel when secured to said storage vessel and said access port closure mechanism seals said access port when secured to said access port;   wherein said bottle closure device permits the removal of fluid interfaces from a colloidal dispersion stored in said storage vessel; and   wherein said access port provides a path for a colloidal dispersion to be loaded into and dispensed from said storage vessel while said bottle closure device is secured to said storage vessel.   
     
     
         2 . The storage and delivery system of  claim 1 , wherein said storage vessel is a variable volume container. 
     
     
         3 . The storage and delivery system of  claim 2 , wherein said variable volume container is capable of being mechanically compressed to reduce its volume. 
     
     
         4 . The storage and delivery system of  claim 3 , further including a securement mechanism to hold said variable volume container in a compressed, reduced volume state. 
     
     
         5 . The storage and delivery system of  claim 4 , wherein said securement mechanism is adjustable among a plurality of volume states. 
     
     
         6 . The storage and delivery system of  claim 1 , wherein said bottle closure device includes a semi-permeable membrane and at least one vent providing a path through said semi-permeable membrane to the exterior of the bottle closure device. 
     
     
         7 . The storage and delivery system of  claim 6 , wherein said semi-permeable membrane permits the evacuation of gas from said storage vessel when said bottle closure device is secured to said storage vessel and prevents the passage of liquid from said storage vessel when said bottle closure device is secured to said storage vessel. 
     
     
         8 . The storage and delivery system of  claim 6 , further including a cap which can be secured to said bottle closure device, said cap capable of sealing said at least one vent and preventing gas from passing through said bottle closure through said semi-permeable membrane. 
     
     
         9 . The storage and delivery system of  claim 8 , wherein said cap, when secured to said bottle closure device, prevents gas from entering said storage vessel when said bottle closure device is secured to said storage vessel. 
     
     
         10 . The storage and delivery system of  claim 6 , wherein said cap permits fluid flow through said access port when secured to said bottle closure device. 
     
     
         11 . The storage and delivery system of  claim 1 , wherein the interior surface of said storage vessel is free of rough and sharp surfaces. 
     
     
         12 . The storage and delivery system of  claim 1 , wherein the interior surface of said storage vessel is formed from a chemically inert material. 
     
     
         13 . The storage and delivery system of  claim 1 , wherein said bottle closure device is secured to said storage vessel via a first securement fitting and said access port closure mechanism is secured to said access port via a second securement fitting. 
     
     
         14 . The storage and delivery system of  claim 13 , wherein at last one of said first securement fitting and said second securement fitting is a threaded attachment mechanism. 
     
     
         15 . The storage and delivery system of  claim 13 , wherein at last one of said first securement fitting and said second securement fitting is comprised of sealant rings. 
     
     
         16 . The storage and delivery system of  claim 15 , wherein said sealant rings are rigid. 
     
     
         17 . The storage and delivery system of  claim 15 , wherein said sealant rings are flexible. 
     
     
         18 . The storage and delivery system of  claim 1 , further comprising a downtube providing a fluid path from the interior of said storage vessel through said access port. 
     
     
         19 . The storage and delivery system of  claim 18 , wherein said downtube is removable. 
     
     
         20 . The storage and delivery system of  claim 1 , wherein said system is capable of storing a colloidal dispersion within said storage vessel free of any headspace.