1. A steam cleaning appliance, comprising:
a steam generation unit;
a steam cleaning applicator; and
a steam conduit configured to guide steam from the steam generation unit to a steam inlet for the steam cleaning applicator;
wherein the steam cleaning applicator is connectable to the steam conduit; and
the steam cleaning applicator is rotatable relative to the steam conduit in either rotational direction without loosening the connection of the steam applicator to the steam conduit.
2. A steam cleaning appliance as in claim 1, wherein the steam cleaning applicator has an end-to-end direction and the steam cleaning applicator is rotatable relative to the steam conduit about the end-to-end direction of the steam cleaning applicator in either rotational direction without loosening the connection of the steam cleaning applicator to the steam conduit.
3. A steam cleaning appliance as in claim 1, wherein the steam applicator is connectable to the steam conduit via a handle.
4. A steam cleaning appliance as in claim 3, wherein the handle has an end-to-end direction, and the handle is rotatable relative to the steam conduit about the end-to-end direction of the handle in either rotational direction without loosening the connection of the steam cleaning applicator to the steam conduit.
5. A steam cleaning appliance as in claim 1, wherein the steam cleaning applicator is rotatable by at least 180 degrees relative to the steam conduit in either rotational direction about an end-to-end direction of the steam cleaning applicator without loosening the connection of the steam cleaning applicator to the steam conduit.
6. A steam cleaning appliance as in claim 1, wherein the steam cleaning applicator is rotatable by at least 360 degrees relative to the steam conduit in either rotational direction about an end-to-end direction of the steam cleaning applicator, without loosening the connection of the steam cleaning applicator to the steam conduit.
7. A steam cleaning appliance as in claim 1, wherein the steam cleaning applicator is repeatedly rotatable relative to the steam conduit in either rotational direction about an end-to-end direction of the steam cleaning applicator without loosening the connection of the steam cleaning applicator to the steam conduit.
8. A steam cleaning appliance as in claim 1, wherein the steam cleaning applicator is connectable to the steam conduit with a tool-free connection.
9. A steam cleaning appliance as in claim 8, wherein at least two distinct user actions are required to remove the steam cleaning applicator from the steam conduit.
10. A steam cleaning appliance as in claim 9, wherein the at least two distinct user actions comprise applying an end-to-end force on a handle relative to the steam conduit, and applying a twisting force on the handle relative to the steam conduit.
11. A steam cleaning appliance as in claim 8, further comprising a connector that is constructed and arranged to permit rotation of the steam cleaning applicator relative to the steam conduit about an end-to-end direction of the steam applicator in either rotational direction without loosening the connection of the steam cleaning applicator to the steam conduit.
12. A steam cleaning appliance as in claim 11, wherein the connector comprises a threaded connector having: (a) an external thread portion positioned on either the steam cleaning applicator or the steam conduit, and (b) an internal thread portion positioned on the other of the steam applicator and the steam conduit.
13. A steam cleaning appliance as in claim 12, wherein:
the external thread portion is selectively rotatable relative to whichever of the steam cleaning applicator and the steam conduit that the external thread portion is positioned on, andor the internal thread portion is selectively rotatable relative to whichever of the steam cleaning applicator and the steam conduit that the internal thread portion is positioned on.
14. A steam cleaning appliance as in claim 13, wherein when a user applies at least a threshold force in an end-to-end direction of a handle of the steam applicator, the selectively rotatable thread portion(s) is prevented from rotating more than 180 degrees in either rotational direction relative to whichever of the steam applicator and the steam conduit that the selectively rotatable thread portion(s) is positioned on, as long as the user continues to apply the at least a threshold force.
15. A steam cleaning appliance as in claim 14, wherein when the at least a threshold force is applied, the at least a threshold force overcomes a force provided by a resilient element.
16. A steam cleaning appliance as in claim 15, wherein the at least a threshold force is transferred to the thread portions of the connector.
17. A steam cleaning appliance as in claim 16, wherein the resilient element comprises a coil spring, and the at least a threshold force compresses the spring such that engagement elements on the selectively rotatable thread portion(s) engage with complementary engagement elements fixed to whichever of the steam cleaning applicator and the steam conduit that the selectively rotatable thread portion(s) is positioned on.
18. A steam cleaning appliance as in claim 17, wherein the internal thread portion is selectively rotatable relative to whichever of the steam cleaning applicator and the steam conduit that the internal thread portion is positioned on.
19. A steam cleaning appliance as in claim 18, wherein the internal thread portion is positioned on the handle of the steam cleaning applicator.
20. A steam cleaning appliance as in claim 1, wherein the steam conduit comprises a flexible hose.
21. A steam cleaning appliance as in claim 1, wherein the steam cleaning applicator includes a handle that is connected to the steam conduit.
22. A steam cleaning appliance as in claim 3, wherein the handle is detachably connectable to the steam applicator.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A method of carrying out a reactive extrusion process, said method comprising:
combining at least one polymer, oligomer, or combination thereof, a carbon dioxide containing fluid, and at least one reactant in an extruder to form a mixture such that the carbon dioxide containing fluid comes into intimate contact with the at least one polymer, oligomer, or combination thereof and assists in a reaction between the at least one polymer, oligomer, or combination thereof and the at least one reactant, and wherein the at least one polymer, oligomer, or combination thereof is modified upon reaction with the at least one reactant.
2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the carbon dioxide containing fluid comprises supercritical carbon dioxide.
3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the carbon dioxide containing fluid comprises liquid carbon dioxide.
4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the carbon dioxide containing fluid comprises gaseous carbon dioxide.
5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the extruder is a twin-screw extruder.
6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the extruder is a single-screw extruder.
7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the at least one polymer, oligomer, or combination thereof and the carbon dioxide-containing fluid contact each other in a countercurrent configuration.
8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the at least one polymer, oligomer, or combination thereof and the carbon dioxide-containing fluid contact each other in a cocurrent configuration.
9. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of removing the carbon dioxide-containing fluid from the extruder.
10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the modified at least one polymer, oligomer, or combination thereof exits the extruder as a foamed material.
11. The method according to claim 9, wherein the modified at least one polymer, oligomer, or combination exits the extruder as a solid, unfoamed material.
12. The method according to claim 1, wherein the carbon dioxide-containing fluid further comprises a surfactant and wherein the at least one reactant enters the extruder with the carbon dioxide-containing fluid.
13. The method according to claim 1, wherein the at least one reactant is a grafting agent, and wherein the grafting agent is grafted onto the at least one polymer, oligomer, or combination thereof.
14. The method according to claim 13, wherein the grafting agent is selected from the group consisting of vinyl silanes, acrylic acid, acrylic esters, methacrylic acid, butyl acrylate, ethylhexyl acrylate, mixtures of acrylic acid and acrylates, dimethylamino ethyl methacrylate, hydroxyethyl methacryate, vinyl acetate, mixtures of vinyl acetate, maleic anhydride, p-methoxy acrylate, p-fluoro acrylate, p-cumylphenyl acrylate, N-methylacryloyl caprolactan, acrylonitrile, aryl vinyl monomers, fumaric acid, itaconic acid, citraconic acid, citraconic anhydride, alkenyl succinate anhydrides, dibutyl maleate, phenyl fumarate, nonoethyl maleate, fluorinated derivatives thereof, and mixtures thereof.
15. The method according to claim 13, wherein the mixture further comprises an initiator.
16. The method according to claim 15, wherein the initiator is selected from the group consisting of acetylcyclohexanesulfonyl peroxide; diacetyl peroxydicarbonate; dicyclohexyl peroxydicarbonate; di-2-ethylhexyl peroxydicarbonate; tert-butyl peroxydicarbonate; 2,2\u2032-azobis(methoxy-2,4-dimethylvaleronitrile); tert-butyl perpivalate; dioctanoyl peroxide; dilauroyl peroxide; 2,2\u2032-azobis(2,4-dimethylvaleronitrile); tert-butylazo-2-cyanobutane; dibenzoyl peroxide; tert-butyl per-2-ethylhexanoate; tert-butyl permaleate; 2,2-azobis(isobutyronitrile); bis(tert-butylperoxy) cyclohexane; tert-butyl peroxyisopropylcarbonate; tert-butyl peracetate; 2,2-bis(tert-butylperoxy) butane; dicumyl peroxide; ditert-amyl peroxide; di-tert-butyl peroxide; p-methane hydroperoxide; pinane hydroperoxide; cumene hydroperoxide; tert-butyl hydroperoxide, and combinations thereof.
17. The method according to claim 1, wherein the at least one reactant is hydrogen and wherein the at least one polymer, oligomer, or combination thereof reacts with the at least one reactant to become hydrogenated.
18. The method according to claim 17, wherein the at least one polymer, oligomer, or combination thereof is selected from the group consisting of polystyrene, poly(bisphenol A carbonate), poly(ethylene terephthalate), poly(butylene terephthalate), polyisoprene, polybutadiene, poly(\u03b1-methylstyrene), poly(methacrylates) and copolymers made from at least one monomer containing an aromatic ring or more than one double bond.
19. The method according to claim 1, wherein the at least one reactant is a second polymer, oligomer, or combination thereof which reacts with the at least one polymer, oligomer, or combination thereof to form a third polymer, oligomer, or combination thereof.
20. The method according to claim 19, wherein the second polymer, oligomer, or combination thereof is the same as the at least one polymer, oligomer, or combination thereof, and wherein the third polymer, oligomer, or combination thereof results from a step growth reaction between the at least one and the second polymer, oligomer, or combination thereof, and wherein a condensate molecule is formed as a result of the reaction, the carbon dioxide-containing fluid comprising the condensation molecule and said method further comprising the step of removing the carbon dioxide-containing fluid from the extruder.
21. The method according to claim 20, wherein the third polymer, oligomer, or combination thereof is selected from the group consisting of poly(ethylene terephthalate), poly(butylene terephthalate), poly(bisphenol A carbonate), nylon 6,6, polycaprolactone, polyamides, polyesters, polycarbonates and polyimides.
22. The method according to claim 20, wherein the condensate molecule is selected from the group consisting of a phenol, a glycol, a C1 to C8 alcohol, water, acetic acid, and mixtures thereof.
23. The method according to claim 20, wherein the third polymer, oligomer, or combination thereof has a weight average molecular weight ranging from about 10,000 to about 250,000.
24. The method according to claim 20, wherein the at least one polymer, oligomer, or combination thereof is different from the second polymer, oligomer, or combination thereof, and wherein the third polymer, oligomer, or combination thereof is a copolymer.
25. The method according to claim 24, wherein the third polymer, oligomer, or combination thereof is a block copolymer.
26. The method according to claim 25, wherein the block copolymer is formed from monomers selected from the group consisting of terephthalic acid, 1,4 butadediol, ethylene glycol, dimethyl terephthalate, propylene glycol, diphenyl carbonate, bisphenol A, adipic acid, and hexamethylene diamine, and combinations thereof.
27. The method according to claim 19, wherein the mixture further comprises a compatibilizing agent which is attached to each of the polymer, oligomer, or combination thereof and the second polymer, oligomer, or combination thereof.
28. The method according to claim 27, wherein the compatibilizing agent is selected from the group consisting of peroxides, azo radicals, stable free radicals, persulfides, surfactants, and copolymers and mixtures thereof.
29. The method according to claim 19, wherein the mixture further comprises a crosslinking agent, and wherein the polymers, oligomers, or combinations thereof are dissimilar and the crosslinking agent attaches to each of the polymers, oligomrs, or combinations thereof to form a third-polymer.
30. The method according to claim 29, wherein the third polymer is a graft copolymer.
31. The method according to claim 29, wherein the third polymer is a crosslinked polymer network.
32. The method according to claim 1, wherein the at least one modified polymer, oligomer, or combination thereof comprises a filler.
33. The method according to claim 32, wherein the filler is selected from the group consisting of alumina trihydrate, barium sulfate, wollastonite, magnesium hydroxide, calcium carbonate, and combinations thereof.
34. A polymer, oligomer, or combination thereof formed by a method according to claim 1.
35. A method of carrying out a reactive extrusion process, said method comprising:
combining at least one first reactive component, at least one second reactive component, and a carbon dioxide containing fluid in an extruder to form a mixture such that the carbon dioxide containing fluid comes into intimate contact with the at least one first reactive component and the at least one second reactive component to assist in a reaction between the at least one first reactive component and the at least one second reactive component, and wherein the at least one first reactive component and the at least one second reactive component react and form a product therefrom.
36. The method according to claim 35, wherein the reaction between the at least one first and second reactive components is a condensation reaction.
37. The method according to claim 35, wherein the at least first reactive component is an epoxy, and the at least one second reactive component is an amine or a carboxylic acid.
38. The method according to claim 37, wherein the epoxy is of the formula:
wherein R2 is a substituent selected from the group consisting of alkyl, vinyl, allyl, alkyl(meth)acrylate, and aryl.
39. The method according to claim 37, wherein the amine is of the formula:
R1\u2014NH2
wherein R1 is a substituent selected from the group consisting of alkyl, vinyl, allyl, alkyl(meth)acrylate, and aryl.
40. The method according to claim 37, wherein the carboxylic acid is of the formula:
wherein R3 is a substituent selected from the group consisting of alkyl, vinyl, allyl, alkyl(meth)acrylate, and aryl.
41. A product formed by a method according to claim 35.