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US 6,309,546 B1Granted
Micro and ultrafilters with controlled pore sizes and pore size distribution and methods for making
AssigneeEllipsis Corporation
InventorsRobert C. Herrmann, Steven M. Landin
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A micro/ultrafiltering element (10) and method for making a filter element are provided. The filtering element comprises a multi-level support (26) having a filtering membrane layer (12) formed thereon comprising sintered particles (14) of uniform diameter. The filtering membrane preferably has an average pore size of from about 0.005-10 micrometers. The filter element is capable of being formed in a variety of geometrical shapes based on the shape of the porous support,
Claims36
A method of making a micro/ultra-filter element comprising:
- (a) masking a uniformly porous support resulting in the pores of said support to be substantially impenetrable;
- (b) coating a solution of uniformly sized metallic particles dispersed in a fluid medium comprising a binding agent on the surface of said masked uniformly porous support, wherein said particles do not substantially penetrate the pores of said support;
- and
- (c) heating said coated support to a temperature sufficiently high to (i) sinter said metallic particles resulting in metallurgical adhesion between said metallic particles and between said metallic particles and said surface of said porous support thereby producing a uniformly porous membrane on the surface of said support;
- and (ii) volatize or burn off said mask.
2 more elements
A method of making a micro/ultra-filter element comprising:
- (a) masking a uniformly porous support resulting in, the pores of said support to be substantially impenetrable;
- (b) depositing on the metallic, multi-layered porous support a plurality of uniformly sized metallic particles that are spherical in shape, wherein said particles do not substantially penetrate the pores of said support;
- (c) sintering said metallic particles and said masked support to the extent that said particles and said support adhere forming a contiguous membrane on the surface of said support, said membrane having consistent uniform pore size and pore size distribution;
- and
- (d) removing said mask from said masked metallic, multi-layered porous support.
2 more elements
A method of making a micro/ultra-filter element comprising:
- (a) coating a solution of uniformly sized metallic particles dispersed in a fluid medium comprising a binding agent on the surface of said masked uniformly porous support, wherein said particles comprise metallic particles and ceramic particles at a ratio between greater than 0 volume percent and less than or equal to 50 volume percent ceramic particles;
- and
- (b) heating said coated support to a temperature sufficiently high to sinter said metallic particles but below the sintering temperature of said ceramic particles, resulting in metallurgical adhesion between said metallic particles and between said metallic particles and said surface of said porous support, thereby producing a uniformly porous membrane on the surface of said porous support.
A method of making a micro/ultra filter element comprising:
- (a) depositing on the surface of a metallic, multi-level porous support a plurality of uniformly sized particles that are spherical in shape, wherein said particles comprise metallic particles and ceramic particles at a ratio between greater than 0 volume percent and less than or equal to 50 volume percent ceramic particles;
- and
- (b) sintering said metallic particles and said support at a sufficiently high temperature such that said particles and said support adhere but below the sintering temperature of the ceramic particles, thereby forming a contiguous membrane on the surface of said support, wherein said membrane has consistent uniform pore size and pore size distribution.
A filter element comprising
- (a) a top porous membrane comprising ceramic particles and contiguous metallic particles, wherein said ceramic particles are present at a ratio of between greater than 0 volume percent and less than or equal to 50 volume percent, and wherein said metallic particles are sintered and form a metallic matrix and said ceramic particles are contained within said metallic matrix;
- (b) a first layer Ar supporting said membrane, said first layer comprised of a first wire mesh for supporting said membrane;
- (c) a second layer comprising a second wire mesh bonded to said first layer for protecting said first layer from deformation;
- (d) a third layer comprising a third wire mesh bonded to said second layer for stabilizing the filter element;
- and
- (e) a fourth layer comprising a fourth wire mesh bonded to said all layer for providing additional rigidity to the filter element,
- wherein said metallic particles are further sintered to said first layer.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.