Electrospun porous media
AssigneeZeus Co., Ltd.
InventorsRobert L. Ballard, Bruce L. Anneaux, Joshua L. Manasco, David P. Garner, Ping Hao
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Espun material may function as a filtration medium or be put to other uses. The espun material may comprise espun poly(tetrafluoroethylene) (espun PTFE). One or more layers of the espun material may be included. The properties of the espun material can be tailored. For example, a gradient fabric may include espun PTFE. The gradient fabric may include two or more layers of espun PTFE.
Claims65
A filter comprising:
- a support structure;
- and
- a mat comprising electrospun poly(tetrafluoroethylene), the mat being supported by the support structure.
A filtration medium comprising:
- a mat comprising electrospun poly(tetrafluoroethylene), the mat being configured so that the mat is capable of meeting HEPA standard IEST-RP-CC001.3, the electrospun poly(tetrafluoroethylene) comprising nonwoven fibers having an average fiber diameter between about 250 nm and about 1500 nm, and an average thickness of the mat being about 200 μm or less.
A method for preparing a filtration medium, comprising:
- having a dispersion comprising
- a fluorinated polymer in particulate form with a given average particle size;
- a fiberizing polymer;
- a dispersion medium;
- and
- an optional conductive species;
- such that the dispersion has a given conductivity;
- and
- electrospinning said dispersion to provide a polymeric mat capable of meeting HEPA standard IEST-RP-CC001.3.
A filtration medium comprising:
- a nonwoven, electrospun poly(tetrafluoroethylene) mat capable of functioning as an ULPA filter so as to remove from air at least 99.999% of airborne particles with particle sizes of less than 0.3μ, wherein
- the electrospun poly(tetrafluoroethylene) mat comprises nonwoven fibers having an average fiber diameter between about 250 nm and about 1500 nm, and
- an average thickness of the electrospun poly(tetrafluoroethylene) mat is about 200 μm or less.
A method for preparing a filtration medium, comprising:
- having a dispersion comprising:
- a fluorinated polymer in particulate form with a given average particle size;
- a fiberizing polymer;
- a dispersion medium;
- and
- an optional conductive species;
- such that the dispersion has a given conductivity;
- and
- electrospinning said dispersion to provide a polymeric mat capable of functioning as an ULPA filter so as to remove from air at least 99.999% of airborne particles with a particle size of less than 0.3 microns.
A mat comprising electrospun poly(tetrafluoroethylene), the mat comprising:
- an average fiber diameter of less than about 1003 nm;
- and
- a density of greater than about 8.1 grams per square meter per mil thickness or less.
A method for preparing a mat, comprising:
- having a dispersion comprising
- a fluorinated polymer in particulate form with an average particle size of less than about 230 nm,
- a fiberizing polymer,
- a dispersion medium, and
- a conductivity of more than about 250 μS/cm;
- electrospinning the dispersion to provide the mat.
A gradient fabric comprising:
- two or more layers of electrospun poly(tetrafluoroethylene) fibers, wherein the two or more layers comprise at least two layers having different densities, such that a cross-section of the fabric exhibits one or more density gradients.
A nonwoven fabric comprising:
- electrospun poly(tetrafluoroethylene), the nonwoven fabric being configured so that the nonwoven fabric is capable of both
- passing the blood penetration test of ASTM F1670, and
- providing air permeability of at least about 2.5 cfm.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.