Membranes and methods of manufacture thereof
AssigneeGradipore Limited
InventorsDavid Henry Solomon, Greg GuangHua Qiao, Marcus Julian Caulfield
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Abstract
A polymeric membrane system containing a polymeric membrane and a substrate with interstitial gaps. Polymeric membrane components reside within the interstitial gaps of the substrate and below the surface of the substrate. Also, the layer of polymeric membrane components is thinner than the cross-sectional thickness of the substrate.
Claims36
A polymeric membrane system comprising a substrate and a polymeric membrane, wherein the substrate comprises a plurality of interstitial gaps therein and wherein the polymeric membrane comprises polymeric membrane components spanning the interstitial gaps of the support, the polymeric membrane components being thinner than the substrate.
A polymeric membrane system according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the thickness of the polymeric membrane components is in the range of about 0.01 to 0.5 mm.
A polymeric membrane system according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the polymer membrane is an ultrathin membrane.
A polymeric membrane system according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the polymeric membrane is a hydrophilic polymer membrane.
A polymeric membrane according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the polymeric membrane is formed from a crosslinked polymer.
A polymeric membrane system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the substrate is a woven or non-woven fabric or material.
A polymeric membrane system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the substrate is formed from a material selected from the group consisting of polyvinyl alcohol, polyethyleneterapthalate, nylon and fiberglass.
A method for production of a polymeric membrane system comprising a substrate and a polymeric membrane, wherein the substrate comprises a plurality of interstitial gaps therein and wherein the polymeric membrane comprises polymeric membrane components spanning the interstitial gaps of the support, the polymeric membrane components being thinner that the substrate, the method comprising contacting a substrate having a plurality of interstitial gaps therein with at least one membrane-forming monomer and at least one crosslinker and subjecting the at least one monomer to polymerization and thereafter subjecting the polymeric membrane system to at least one solvent wash.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.