Patent · US Expired

Processes of making a porous membrane material from polyvinylidene fluoride, and products

US4203848A · kind A · utility

142Cited by
47References
21Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateMay 25, 1977
Grant dateMay 20, 1980
Priority date
Expiry dateMay 25, 1997

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
  • CPC primaryB29C67/20
  • WIPO fieldChemical engineering
  • WIPO sectorChemistry

Abstract

Covers processes for making microporous membranes and molecular filtration membranes from vinylidene fluoride polymers, and the products so produced. A continuous version of the process consists of applying a layer of a solution of a polyvinylidene fluoride polymer to a rigidly supported surface of a backing belt to form a film, then passing the belt through a formation bath, in which the membrane is formed. To form the polymer solution, the polymer is dissolved in a liquid vehicle that will dissolve up to about 25% by weight of the polymer at a temperature of at least 50.degree. C. but that dissolves substantially less of the polymer at about 20.degree. C. (room temperature). The polymer solution is formed at 50.degree. C. or higher, and the formation bath is maintained at about room temperature. The formation bath is a mixture of the liquid vehicle solvent with a second liquid that is miscible with the solvent but that is not itself a solvent for the polymer. The film is maintained immersed in the formation bath until it has been converted to a porous membrane whose pore structure is essentially fully formed, by leaching of the solvent from the film and its replacement with the n…

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.