Solvent free process for manufacturing membranes

A method of manufacturing a porous polymer membrane (3), said method comprising the steps of:

• a) providing shaped articles (1), comprising a polymer matrix (5) and particles (4) dispersed within said matrix, by a solvent free process;
• b) converting said shaped articles (1) into a non-porous polymer film (2) by a solvent-free process;
• c) removing said particles (4) from said film (2) by contacting said film with an aqueous composition (6) to thereby obtain the porous polymer membrane (3);
• wherein:
• said membrane (3) having
• an area of >1 m2
• a pore size of 0.005 μm -15 μm, and
• said shaped articles (1) comprise matrix (5) and particles (4) in a ratio of 90:10 to 10:90 (matrix:particles in wt %), and
• said matrix (5) comprises a thermoplastic or thermosetting polymer (51) and optionally additives (52),
• said particles (4) are pre-manufactured;
• have a particle size in the range of 0.005 μm -10 μm;
• are selected from the group consisting of organic salts, metal salts, metal oxides;
• and are coated with a coating (41)
• the coating (41) being selected from
• hydrophobic coatings;
• or
• hydrophilic coatings.