Material Processing by Rapid Expansion of Supercritical Solution

Abstract

Rapid expansion of supercritical solution (RESS) is a newly developed technology to prepare fine particles or thin films, where a supercritical fluid with dissolved solute is sprayed through a nozzle into a lower pressure space. The RESS process is characterized by high supersaturation and by rapid homogeneous nucleation. The fundamental features and the application feasibility of the RESS process are described. An inorganic material processing with metal alkoxide in supercritical carbon dioxide is mentioned as well as organic materials processing.