Ultra-thin integral composite membrane
AssigneeW. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.
InventorsBamdad Bahar, Alex R. Hobson, Jeffrey A. Kolde, David Zuckerbrod
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Abstract
An ultra-thin composite membrane is provided which includes a base material and an ion exchange resin. The base material is a membrane which is defined by a thickness of less than 1 mil (0.025 mm) and a microstructure characterized by nodes interconnected by fibrils, or a microstructure characterized by fibrils with no nodes present. The ion exchange resin substantially impregnates the membrane such that the membrane is essentially air impermeable.
Claims24
An ultra-thin composite membrane comprising:
- (a) an expanded polytetrafluoroethylene membrane having a porous microstructure of polymeric fibrils and a total thickness of less than 0.025 mm;
- and
- (b) an ion exchange material impregnated throughout the membrane, the impregnated expanded polytetrafluoroethylene membrane having a Gurley number of greater than 10,000 seconds, wherein the ion exchange material substantially impregnates the membrane to render an interior volume of the membrane substantially occlusive.
An ultra-thin composite membrane comprising:
- (a) a membrane having a porous microstructure and a total thickness of less than 13 .mu.m;
- and
- (b) an ion exchange material impregnated throughout the membrane, the impregnated expanded polytetrafluoroethylene membrane having a Gurley number of greater than 10,000 seconds, wherein the ion exchange material substantially impregnates the membrane to render an interior volume of the membrane substantially occlusive.
An ion exchange membrane comprising:
- (a) a membrane comprising an expanded polytetrafluoroethylene having a porous microstructure defined substantially of only fibrils;
- and
- (b) an ion exchange material impregnated throughout the membrane, the impregnated expanded polytetrafluoroethylene membrane having a Gurley number of greater than 10,000 seconds, wherein the ion exchange material substantially impregnates the membrane to render an interior volume of the membrane substantially occlusive.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.