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AssigneeKimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
InventorsVasily A. Topolkaraev, Ryan J. McEneany, Theodore T. Tower, David Glen Biggs, Neil T. Scholl, Thomas A. Eby, Antonio J. Carrillo
Estimating the term…
A polymeric material having a multimodal pore size distribution is provided. The material is formed by applying a stress to a thermoplastic composition that contains first and second inclusion additives dispersed within a continuous phase that includes a matrix polymer. Through the use of particular types of inclusion additives and careful control over the manner in which such additives are dispersed within the polymer matrix, the present inventors have discovered that a unique, multimodal porous structure can be achieved.
1-31. (canceled)
A porous polymeric material that contains a thermoplastic composition, the thermoplastic composition including a continuous phase in which a first inclusion additive and second inclusion additive are dispersed in the form of discrete first and second domains, respectively, the continuous phase including a matrix polymer, wherein a plurality of micropores are formed at and/or around the first domains that have an average cross-sectional dimension of from about 0.5 to about 30 micrometers, and wherein a plurality of nanopores are formed at and/or around the second domains that have an average cross-sectional dimension of from about 50 to about 500 nanometers.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.