Abstract:
Porous membranes are produced by dissolving a film-forming polymer in a good solvent for the polymer, forming a film of the resulting polymer solution, and forcibly contacting saturated steam or mist-containing steam with at least one surface of said film. Such porous membranes have pores having a narrow pore diameter distribution and extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to the membrane surface at a high surface pore density on at least one surface thereof.
Abstract:
Highly useful novel microcellular polymeric structures, especially films and fibers, are prepared from certain solid polymers. Aromatic polysulfones, polyimides, polyhydantoins, polyamides and polyparabanic acid are the preferred ones for the novel structures of the invention.
Abstract:
An improved microporous polymer material is made by coagulating, e.g. in water, a polymer solution containing dispersed microscopic particles of a removable filler soluble in a coagulating liquid.
Abstract:
A process for producing a microporous plastic member useful as a battery separator which comprises(a) forming a coherent dough by mixing a vinyl chloride resin with a plasticizing amount of a first solvent and with finely divided particles of a filler which contains volatilizable constituent releasable therefrom by heating and which shrinks substantially and irreversibly upon release of said volatilizable constituent therefrom, an example of which is hydrated silica;(b) forming the solvent-containing dough into a shaped member;(c) extracting the first solvent from the member before any substantial evaporation of solvent occurs by contacting it with a second solvent in a liquid bath at a temperature substantially below the boiling point of any liquid present, the second solvent being one which is capable of dissolving the first solvent without dissolving the resin and the filler, thereby deplasticizing the member by extractively removing the first solvent from the member; and(d) thereafter heating the member at an elevated temperature but below the softening point of the resin until the filler is shrunk within the member by release of its volatilizable content.
Abstract:
A normally hydrophilic microporous material having a polymeric matrix and a filler dispersed throughout the matrix wherein the filler contains active polar groups, is rendered hydrophobic by exposing the material to a reactive compound. In one preferred embodiment of the invention the reactive compound is a silane or a silazane whereas in another preferred embodiment the reactive compound is a Werner-type complex of fatty acids coordinated with a metal. The treated microporous material is rendered impervious to water-based liquids but remains pervious with respect to vapors or gases.
Abstract:
This invention relates to coated paper-like plastic films having a microporous surface layer and a method of producing the same. Such a coated plastic film is produced by coating plastic polymeric films with a coating composition comprising a resin, a plasticizer, an inorganic fine powder and dimethylformamide and then the coated plastic film is treated with water and subjected to drying. Also, in accordance with this invention, the coated plastic film is subjected to a heat-treatment before or after the coated plastic film is treated with water or after the coated plastic polymeric film is dried.
Abstract:
A PROCESS FOR PREPARING MICROPOROUS OPEN-CELLED CELLULAR POLYMERIC STRUCTURES WHICH COMPRISES (A) DISSOLVING THE STARTING POLYMER IN A CHLOROFULOROCARBON SOLVENT, (B) COOLING THE RESULTING SOLUTION TO AT LEAST THE SOLIDIFICATION TEMPERATURE OF THE CHLOROFLUOROCARBON SOLVENT, AND (C) REMOVING THE CHLOROFLUOROCARBON SOLVENT, AND (C) FIED SOLUTION AT A TEMPERATURE EQUAL TO OR LOWER THAN THE SOLIDIFICATION TEMPERATURE OF SAID CHLOROFLUOROCARBON.
Abstract:
A POROUS POLYMERIC SHEET HAVING A SPECFIC GRAVITY OF LESS THAN 0.7 AND A THICKNESS OF 0.05 TO 2.0 MM. AND CONTAINING PORES INCLINED AT AN ANGLE OF LESS THAN 80* AGAINST THE PLANE OF THE SHEET AND HAVING A LENGTH OF 0.03 TO 10 MM. A SHEET MATERIAL COMPRISING SAID POROUS POLYMERIC SHEET AND A SUBSTRATE BOUND TO THE LOWER SURFACE OF SAID POROUS POLYMERIC SHEET. SAID POROUS POLYMERIC SHEET IS PRODUCED BY IMMERSING A POLYMER SOLUTION APPLIED TO A SUPPORT INTO A COAGULATION BATH UNDER A CONDITION OF RAPID COAGULATION RAPIDLY THE UPPER PORTION OF THE SOLUTION AND TO FORM MACROPORES IN THE INNER PORTION; STRESSING THE UPPER PORTION IN TRANSVERSE DIRECTION, THAT IS, A DIRECTION PARALLEL TO THE PLANE OF THE SUPPORT, IN THE BATH TO SHIFT THE UPPER PORTION TO TRANSVERSE DIRECTION AND TO INCLINE THE PORES FORMED; TREATING FURTHER THE LAYER WITH THE BATH TO COMPLETE THE COAGULATION, THEREBY FORMING POROUS STRUCTURE CONTAINING PORES INCLINED AT AN ANGLE OF LESS THAN 80* AGAINST THE PLANE; AND PEELING OFF THE RESULTING POROUS POLYMERIC SHEET FROM THE SUPPORT.