Polymer membrane meshes
OwnerRobert F. Zepfinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention relates to polymer membrane meshes having pores with an average diameter from about 10 μm to about 200 μm. The membrane meshes are cast from polymer dope mixes that are either homogeneous solutions or stable colloidal dispersions.
Claims68
A polymer membrane mesh, the membrane mesh comprising a first surface having first surface pores, a second surface having second surface pores, and a support structure between the first surface and the second surface, the support structure having a reticular network of flow channels connecting the pores of the first surface with the pores of the second surface, wherein both or either of the first surface pores and the second surface pores have an average pore diameter of greater than or equal to about 10 μm.
A method for preparing a polymer membrane mesh, the method comprising:
- providing a casting dope comprising a polymer, a nonsolvent, and a solvent;
- casting the dope to form a thin film;
- exposing the film to a humid atmosphere for a period of time sufficient to allow formation of surface pores greater than about 10 μm in diameter;
- coagulating the film in a coagulation bath;
- and
- recovering from the coagulation bath a polymer membrane mesh, the membrane mesh comprising a first surface having first surface pores, a second surface having second surface pores, and a support structure between the first surface and the second surface, the support structure having a reticular network of flow channels connecting the pores of the first surface with the pores of the second surface, wherein both or either of the first surface pores and the second surface pores have an average pore diameter greater than about 10 μm.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.