Integral composite membrane
AssigneeW. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.
InventorsBamdad Bahar, Robert S. Mallouk, Alex R. Hobson, Jeffrey A. Kolde
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Abstract
A composite membrane is provided which includes a base material and an ion exchange resin. The base material has 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.
Claims61
A composite membrane comprising n t least one expanded polytetrafluoroethylene membrane having a porous microstructure of polymeric fibrils and having a thickness of 80 microns or less;
- and
- (b) an t least one ion exchange material impregnated throughout the porous microstructure of the expanded polytetraafluoroethylene membrane so as to render an interior volume of the expanded polytetrafluoroethylene membrane substantially occlusive, the impregnated expanded polytetrafluoroethylene membrane having a Gurley number of greater than 10,000 seconds, wherein the ion exchange material substantially impregnates the membrane so as to render an interior volume of the membrane substantially occlusive ;
- wherein optionally the at least one ion exchange material is complimented by powder, non-ionic polymer, or a combination thereof.
A laminate of composite membranes consisting essentially of at least two composite membranes laminated to each other, wherein the at least two composite membranes each consist essentially of:
- (a) an expanded polytetrafluoroethylene membrane having a porous microstructure of polymeric fibrils and having a thickness of 80 microns or less;
- and
- (b) an ion exchange material impregnated throughout the porous microstructure of the membrane so as to render an interior volume of the expanded polytetrafluoroethylene membrane substantially occlusive, the impregnated membrane having a Gurley number of greater than 10,000 seconds.
A membrane comprising:
- (a) at least one expanded polytetrafluoroethylene membrane having a porous microstructure of polymeric fibrils;
- and
- (b) at least one ion exchange material impregnated throughout the porous microstructure of the membrane so as to render an interior volume of the expanded polytetrafluoroethylene membrane substantially occlusive, the impregnated expanded polytetrafluoroethylene membrane having a Gurley number of greater than 10,000 seconds, wherein powder is included with the at least one ion exchange material.
A membrane consisting essentially of:
- (a) at least one expanded base membrane having a porous microstructure of polymeric fibrils and having a thickness of 80 microns or less;
- and
- (b) at least one ion exchange material impregnated throughout the porous microstructure of the expanded base membrane so as to render an interior volume of the base membrane substantially occlusive the impregnated expanded base membrane having a Gurley number of greater than 10,000 seconds.
A composite membrane consisting essentially of:
- (a) at least one expanded polytetrafluoroethylene membrane having a porous microstructure of polymeric fibrils and having a thickness of 80 microns or less;
- and
- (b) at least one ion exchange material impregnated throughout the porous microstructure of the expanded polytetrafluoroethylene membrane so as to render an interior volume of the expanded polytetrafluoroethylene membrane substantially occlusive, the impregnated membrane not allowing for fluid percolation.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.