Patent · US Expired

Method for manufacturing microporous membrane

US4466931A · kind A · utility

30Cited by
17References
7Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateAug 5, 1982
Grant dateAug 21, 1984
Priority date
Expiry dateAug 5, 2002

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC C)Chemistry; Metallurgy
  • CPC primaryC08J2201/0546
  • WIPO fieldChemical engineering
  • WIPO sectorChemistry

Abstract

The starting materials for the practice of the present invention are (1) one or more organic monomers or oligomers which upon irradiation very rapidly undergo a polymerization reaction to form a solid polymer; and (2) a liquid vehicle in which the one or more organic monomers or oligomers are soluble but in which the polymer formed is insoluble. For the manufacture of microporous membrane in accordance with the invention the monomers or oligomers are dissolved in the liquid vehicle, the resulting solution is formed into a thin layer, and the thin layer of the solution is then irradiated as with ultraviolet or electron beam radiation whereupon the rapid polymerization reaction immediately ensues and the polymer formed immediately segregates from the vehicle thereby resulting in microporous membrane from which the vehicle can be removed as by evaporation or washing. Because the radiation-induced polymerization reaction and the segregation of the polymer formed are so rapid, the membrane formed has cells and communications therebetween of very small dimensions thereby providing the microporous structure. Where ultraviolet radiation is used the solution also includes a photoinitiator.

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