Modified microporous structures
AssigneeHoechst Celanese Corporation
InventorsGunilla E. Gillberg-LaForce, Eric M. Gabriel
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Abstract
A pore modified microporous membrane is disclosed which is made by the process of incorporating a polymerizable vinyl monomer within the pores of a microporous membrane followed by polymerization to secure the resulting polymer within the pores. The process is particularly suitable for modifying a hydrophobic microporous membrane with a hydrophilic polymer, as occurs for example when polyacrylic acid is secured into the pores of a polypropylene microporous membrane. In further applications of the present invention, the inventive method may be used to produce liquid membrane supports for use with or without active carriers.
Claims42
A process for producing a hydrophilic pore modified microporous membrane from a hydrophobic microporous membrane comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing a hydrophobic microporous membrane;
- (b) incorporating at least one polymerizable vinyl monomer, which when polymerized yields a hydrophilic polymer, and a polymerization initiator within the pores of said microporous membrane;
- and
- (c) polymerizing said vinyl monomer to yield a polymerized monomer with sufficient molecular weight that said polymerized monomer is secured in said pores.
A process for producing a hydrophilic pore modified microporous membrane from a hydrophobic microporous membrane comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing a hydrophobic microporous membrane;
- (b) incorporating at least one polymerizable vinyl monomer within the pores of said microporous membrane;
- and
- (c) polymerizing said vinyl monomer by exposure to a radiation source selected from gamma-radiation and electron beam radiation to yield a polymerized monomer with sufficient molecular weight that said polymerized monomer is secured in said pores.
A process for making a liquid membrane in a microporous support, comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing a microporous membrane;
- (b) incorporating at least one polymerizable monomer into the pores of said microporous membrane, said polymerizable monomer being selected from the group of monomers which after polymerization yield polymers that cooperate with at least one liquid to form a gel;
- (c) polymerizing said monomer to obtain a polymer, wherein said polymer has sufficient molecular weight to be secured within said pores of said microporous membrane;
- and
- (d) gelling said polymer with a liquid that forms a gel.
A hydrophilic pore modified membrane comprising:
- (a) a hydrophobic microporous membrane;
- (b) a hydrophilic polymer of composition different from the composition of said membrane, wherein said hydrophilic polymer is the product of a polymerization reaction of one or more polymerizable vinyl monomers under conditions that said polymer has sufficient molecular weight to be secured within the pores of said microporous membrane.
A liquid membrane support, comprising:
- (a) a microporous membrane;
- (b) a polymer of composition different from the composition of said membrane, said polymer being selected from the group of polymers that form gels with at least one liquid, said polymer being the product of a polymerization reaction of at least one polymerizable vinyl monomer under conditions that said polymer has sufficient molecular weight to be secured within the pores of said microporous membrane.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.