Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
186 words
A method of producing a cross-linked polyvinyl alcohol element which comprises the steps of: providing an aqueous admixture comprising a film-forming polyvinyl alcohol resin, a dialdehyde cross-linking agent capable of cross-linking the polyvinyl alcohol resin, said cross-linking agent being present in an amount of from 1 to 20% by weight of the theoretical amount required to react with all of the hydroxyl groups of the polyvinyl alcohol resin, and a water soluble acid-aldehyde containing a reactive aldehyde group capable of reacting with hydroxyl groups in the polyvinl alcohol resin and containing an ionizable acid hydrogen atom, said acid-aldehyde being present in an amount of from 1 to 50% by weight of the theoretical amount required to react with all of the hydroxyl groups of the polyvinyl alcohol resin and sufficient to reduce the pH of the aqueous admixture to not more than 5; forming the admixture into a desired physical shape; and heating the shaped admixture to form a self-supporting polymeric article and to simultaneously effect a cross-linking reaction between the dialdehyde cross-linking agent and the polyvinyl alcohol resin to produce a cross-linked polyvinyl alcohol element.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
186 words
A method of producing a cross-linked polyvinyl alcohol element which comprises the steps of: providing an aqueous admixture comprising a film-forming polyvinyl alcohol resin, a dialdehyde cross-linking agent capable of cross-linking the polyvinyl alcohol resin, said cross-linking agent being present in an amount of from 1 to 20% by weight of the theoretical amount required to react with all of the hydroxyl groups of the polyvinyl alcohol resin, and a water soluble acid-aldehyde containing a reactive aldehyde group capable of reacting with hydroxyl groups in the polyvinl alcohol resin and containing an ionizable acid hydrogen atom, said acid-aldehyde being present in an amount of from 1 to 50% by weight of the theoretical amount required to react with all of the hydroxyl groups of the polyvinyl alcohol resin and sufficient to reduce the pH of the aqueous admixture to not more than 5; forming the admixture into a desired physical shape; and heating the shaped admixture to form a self-supporting polymeric article and to simultaneously effect a cross-linking reaction between the dialdehyde cross-linking agent and the polyvinyl alcohol resin to produce a cross-linked polyvinyl alcohol element.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein the admixture is formed into a desired physical shape by casting a film of said admixture onto a support.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
39 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein the admixture is formed into a desired physical shape by immersing a support into said admixture and removing the support therefrom, whereby a coating of said admixture is provided on the support.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein said acid aldehyde is selected from the group consisting of those having the formulas ##STR4## and the sulfonic and phosphonic acid analogs thereof wherein R is a divalent organic radical.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method according to claim 4 wherein R is selected from the group consisting of a divalent aliphatic radical, a divalent cycloaliphatic radical and a divalent aromatic radical.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method according to claim 5 wherein R is a divalent alkyl radical of from 1 to 6 carbon atoms.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
10 words
A method according to claim 5 wherein R is phenylene.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
13 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein said acidic aldehyde comprises glyoxylic acid.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
40 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein said polyvinyl alcohol resin is present in said admixture in an amount of from 3 to 20% by weight, based on the total weight of water and polyvinyl alcohol resin in said admixture.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
39 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein said dialdehyde is selected from the group consisting of ethane dial and dialdehydes having the formula ##STR5## wherein R 1 is a divalent organic radical of from 1 to 12 carbon atoms.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
13 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein said dialdehyde comprises a dialdehyde starch.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
10 words
Cross-linked polyvinyl alcohol made by the process of claim 1.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
23 words
In an alkaline battery having a cross-linked polyvinyl alcohol separator, the improvement wherein the separator is made by the process of claim 1.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein the amount of acid aldehyde is 1-20% by weight.