Fabric reinforced composite membrane
US4954388A · kind A · utility
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 30, 1988 |
| Grant date | Sep 4, 1990 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 30, 2008 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T428/31544
- WIPO fieldChemical engineering
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
An abrasion-resistant, tear-resistant, multilayer composite membrane, useful in electrolysis, is provided comprising a continuous perfluoro ion exchange polymer film attached to a reinforcing fabric by means of a porous, expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (EPTFE) interlayer. The fabric and EPTFE are rendered hydrophilic and non-gas-locking by coating the interior and exterior surfaces thereof with a perfluoro ion exchange resin of equivalent weight less than 1000. The composite preferably is treated with an ionic perfluoro surfactant. Also provided is a multilayer composite according to the above in which the continuous perfluoro ion exchange film is itself a multilayer construction of a perfluorosulfonate polymer and a thin layer of perfluorocarboxylate polymer in which the perfluorosulfonate polymer interfaces with the EPTFE and the interior and exterior surfaces of the EPTFE and fabric are coated with perfluorosulfonate polymer. Also provided are a method of making the composites and methods of use for these fabric reinforced thin membrane structures as separators in electrolytic cells, and as selective barriers in permeation separation and facilitated transport operations.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.