US 5,695,702 AGranted

Thermoplastic hollow fiber membrane module and method of manufacture

AssigneeMillipore Corporation

InventorJ. Karl Niermeyer

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Abstract

A hollow fiber membrane module and its method of manufacture are disclosed wherein the module is fabricated utilizing superior hollow fiber materials, namely high molecular weight (i.e. molecular weight>500,000 Daltons) polymers. In a preferred embodiment, the hollow fibers are fabricated from ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UPE). An array of UPE hollow fiber membranes is contacted with an extrusion of molten thermoplastic polymer at a contact temperature which is higher than the UPE membrane polymer. This high temperature application of sealing polymer does not collapse or otherwise deform the lumen of the hollow fiber, while assuring that the polymer can thus be applied with sufficiently low viscosity to provide adequate penetration around the individual fibers of the array to form an integral seal thereabout.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A method of making an all thermoplastic hollow fiber membrane module comprising the steps of:

contacting a plurality of hollow fiber membranes made from polymers having a molecular weight greater than 500,000 Daltons with an extrusion of molten thermoplastic polymer having a molecular weight substantially less than the molecular weight of said fiber polymers to form a substantially parallel array of said membranes;
said thermoplastic polymer being heated sufficiently above its melting point such that it is applied to said membranes at a contact temperature higher than the melting point of said membranes serving to cause said molten polymer to flow around said hollow fiber membranes while simultaneously causing at least partial melting of the hollow fiber membrane walls and to form an integral bundle of hollow fiber membranes;
and
cooling said molten polymer to form a fluid-tight seal between a first and second region of said hollow fiber membranes.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.