supercritical
/suːpəˈkrɪtɪk(ə)l
/adjective Physics
1Above a critical threshold, in particular:
1.1(In nuclear physics) containing or involving more than the critical mass.After this supercritical mass is obtained, a self-sustained chain reaction takes place and causes the atomic explosion....
- The simplest atomic bomb works when two pieces of supercritical Uranium - 235 are brought together at speed.
1.2(Of a flow of fluid) faster than the speed at which waves travel in the fluid.
1.3Denoting an aerofoil or aircraft wing designed to tolerate shock-wave formation at transonic speeds.
1.4Relating to or denoting a fluid at a temperature and pressure greater than its critical temperature and pressure.Chemists are attempting to address this problem by finding alternative solvents, such as water and supercritical CO2, and by <w ctag='JJ'>biphasic system that allows catalyst recycling....
- The availability of experimental data for this reaction using cutinase in acetonitrile and supercritical CO2 has prompted this choice.
- But there's plenty of ammonia out there, too, along with methane, sulfuric acid, and other potential solvents like the supercritical dihydrogen found in the lower layers of gas giant planets.