Porous membranes, freestanding composites, and related devices and methods
AssigneeAmtek Research International LLC
InventorDaniel Wandera
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The disclosed porous membranes and freestanding composites containing the porous membranes have a solution-cast three-dimensional polymer matrix defining interconnecting pores that provide overall first major surface-to-second major surface fluid permeability. The porous membranes and freestanding composites can be used to separate lead-acid battery electrodes. The porous membranes and freestanding composites can have high porosity and low electrical resistance while having both excellent flexibility and mechanical strength. This can reduce the probability of damage to the separators during battery assembly and also allow production of battery separators with a high overall height, but a minimal backweb thickness.
Claims20
A porous membrane comprising:
- a backweb comprising first and second opposite major surfaces;
- a plurality of unitary, regularly-shaped protrusions formed in and unitary with the first major surface;
- and
- a solution-cast three-dimensional polymer matrix defining interconnecting pores that provide overall first major surface-to-second major surface fluid permeability, the polymer matrix providing innate electrolyte-wettability to surfaces of the interconnecting pores, wherein a porosity of the plurality of unitary, regularly-shaped protrusions is the substantially the same as a porosity of the backweb.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.