Membrane construction

A membrane assembly for electrochemical processes, comprising:

• a membrane defined by a stack of corrosion-resistant, relatively soft, normally non-capillary material film layers, the stack having a length, width, and height;
• surface manifestations formed on said film layers defining capillaries extending continuously from one side of said stack across the width thereof, to the other side of said stack;
• means for compressing said layers together to control the water permeability of the membrane;
• and
• a plurality of layers of corrosion-resistant, springy, porous capillary material interspersed with said film layers.

A membrane assembly for electrochemical processes comprising:

• a membrane defined by a stack of thermoplastic film layers, the stack having a length, width, and height;
• surface manifestations formed on said thermoplastic film layers defining capillaries extending continuously from one side of said stack, across the width thereof, to the other side of said stack;
• and
• means for compressing said layers together to control the water permeability of the membrane.

A membrane assembly for electrochemical processes comprising:

• a membrane defined by a stack of corrosion-resistant, relatively soft, normally non-capillary material film layers, the stack having a length, width, and height;
• surface manifestations formed on said film layers defining capillaries extending continuously from one side of said stack, across the width thereof, to the other side of said stack, said capillaries having an average cross-sectional dimension of about 0.0000008 square inches;
• and
• means for compressing said layers together to control the water permeability of the membrane.