JONATHAN PETER BENNETT
Pilots at Hermit Thrush Ln, Charlotte, NC

5520886, May 28, 1996

Jan 14, 1994

8/183192

Jonathan P. Bennett - Charlotte NC
Wyatt P. Hargett - Matthews NC

CEM Corporation - Matthews NC

B01L 300, G01N 2500

422102

Sealable container assemblies include containers for materials which are to be microwave heated, such as in digesting or extracting operations, made of thermoplastic material, such as fluoropolymer, that is strengthened by reinforcing means that may be a fiber reinforced thermoplastic of high tensile strength, such as polyetherimide, with reinforcing continuous fibers in a matrix of such thermoplastic, which fibers are very preferably in the shape of a sleeve or sleeves and are of glass or other heat resistant and microwave transmissive material. The containers may be strengthened by incorporating the fiber reinforced thermoplastic in a wall or walls of the container or preferably by inserting the container into a reinforcement, which is a sleeve or collar of the reinforced thermoplastic. In both such constructions the reinforcing means protects the container against radial failure due to pressure that is generated by the microwave heating of the container contents. However, it has been found that in those cases wherein the internal pressure of the container rises even higher than that against which the reinforcement is protective, failure of the side wall and the reinforcement may be explosive, so the containers of this invention are of a structure that causes them to fail at an unreinforced location before the reinforcement, which failure is less explosive and less damaging to equipment employed and to any surroundings.

5427741, Jun 27, 1995

May 19, 1993

8/064753

Jonathan P. Bennett - Charlotte NC

CEM Corporation - Matthews NC

B01L 300, G01N 2500

422102

Containers for materials which are to be microwave heated such as in digesting or extracting operations, are made of thermoplastic material, such as a fluoropolymer, e. g. , TEFLON. RTM. PFA, that is strengthened by reinforcing means that may be a fiber reinforced thermoplastic of high tensile strength, such as polyetherimide, e. g. , ULTEM. RTM. , with reinforcing continuous fibers in a matrix of such thermoplastic, which fibers are preferably of glass or other heat resistant and microwave transmissive material. The containers may be strengthened by incorporating the fiber reinforced thermoplastic in a wall or walls of the container or by inserting the container into a reinforcement, which is a sleeve or collar of the reinforced thermoplastic. In both such constructions the reinforcing means protects the container against peripheral or radial failure due to pressure that is generated by the microwave heating of the container contents. Also described are processes for manufacturing the described reinforcing means and for utilizing containers protected by such means.