Patent ID: 8795608

Claim:
A controlled release and self-resealing vessel assembly for high pressure microwave assisted chemistry, said vessel assembly comprising: a cylindrical reaction vessel formed of a material that is substantially transparent to microwave radiation, said vessel having an annular wall, one closed end for retaining reactants in the lower portions of said vessel, one open end that defines a mouth for said vessel and a threaded outer wall; said mouth of said cylinder having a lip that is beveled inwardly from said open end; a microwave-transparent solid plug placed in said mouth of said reaction vessel and without any mechanical interaction or mechanical advantage with any other single part, said plug having a frustum portion for engaging said beveled lip when said plug is placed in said mouth of said vessel; and a threaded lid for engaging said threaded outer wall and for exerting a defined axial force against said plug for pressing said plug in said open end of said cylinder with said frustum portion engaging said lip, said threaded lid having a substantially rigid perimeter portion, a rigid center load-bearing portion exerting a defined axial force against said plug, and a flexible portion connecting the rigid perimeter to the center load-bearing portion.