Heterogeneous foam materials
US5869171A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 29, 1998 |
| Grant date | Feb 9, 1999 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 29, 2018 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T428/249953
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
The present invention relates to a HIPE-derived heterogeneous polymeric foam structure of interconnected open-cells, wherein the foam structure has at least two distinct regions. Such heterogeneous foams have various applications, such as energy and fluid absorption, insulation, and filtration. The invention further relates to a heterogeneous absorbent polymeric foam that, upon contact with aqueous fluids (in particular body fluids such as urine and blood), can acquire, distribute, and store these fluids. The foams of the invention have at least two distinct regions having different density, polymer composition, surface properties, and/or microcellular morphology. The invention further relates to a process for obtaining the heterogeneous foams by polymerizing a high internal phase water-in-oil emulsion, or HIPE. In one aspect, the process utilizes at least two distinct HIPEs, with each emulsion having a relatively small amount of an oil phase and a relatively greater amount of a water phase.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.