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Abstract

A method for compressing gases in a contained volume consisting of hollow glass microspheres is described. The gases are compressed under high pressure and can be easily handled and stored. The gases to be compressed and contained in the microspheres are used as blowing gases to blow the microspheres. The hollow glass microspheres are made by forming a liquid film of molten glass across a coaxial blowing nozzle, applying the blowing gas at a positive pressure on the inner surface of the glass film to blow the film and form an elongated cylinder shaped liquid film of molten glass. A transverse jet is used to direct an entraining fluid over and around the blowing nozzle at an angle to the axis of the blowing nozzle. The entraining fluid as it passes over and around the blowing nozzle fluid dynamically induces a pulsating or fluctuating pressure field at the opposite or lee side of the blowing nozzle in the wake or shadow of the coaxial blowing nozzle. The continued movement of the entraining fluid over the elongated cylinder produces asymmetric fluid drag forces on the cylinder and closes and detaches the elongated cylinder from the coaxial blowing nozzle and the detached cylinder by the action of surface tension forms into a spherical shape. Quench nozzles are disposed below and on either side of the blowing nozzle and direct cooling fluid at and into contact with the molten glass microspheres to rapidly cool and solidify the molten glass to form a hard, smooth hollow glass microsphere. Where a metal coating is desired within the microsphere, a metal vapor is added to the blowing gas. When the microsphere is cooled, the metal vapor cools, condenses and deposits on the inner wall surface of the microsphere as a metal coating.

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First Claim