Patent US4557955A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4557955A
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US
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Shaped articles which are composed of a copolymer containing fluorine groups and which are selectively permeable to liquids and gases and are simultaneously oleophobic and oleophilic
Assignee: Hoechst AG
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Filing: 1982-07-27
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Granted: 1985-12-10
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Expires: 2002-07-27
Abstract
Abstract The invention relates to films and tubular structures which are selectively permeable to liquids and gases which are based on a copolymer composed of a copolymerized fluorinated olefin, copolymerized vinyl acetate and, optionally, a copolymerized olefin. It is possible for the acetate groups of the copolymer to have been saponified to form OH groups. The films or tubular structures have in each case an inherent, latent capacity for modifying their structure and are at the same time oleophobic and oleophilic. The invention also embraces processes for the preparation of the shaped articles described and processes for modifying their structure. The invention also relates to the use of shaped articles according to the invention.
Inventors
- 👤 Axel Walch
- 👤 Walter Seifried
- 👤 Wolfgang Michel
- 👤 Jurgen Kuhls
- 👤 Jurgen Wildhardt
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 11:22
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61K; A61K9/00; A61K9/0087; A61K9/009; B; B01; B01D; B01D61/00; B01D61/14; B01D61/18; B01D69/00; B01D69/08; B01D69/081; B01D71/00; B01D71/06; B01D71/30; B01D71/32; C; C08; C08J; C08J9/00; C08J9/28; D; D01; D01D; D01D5/00; D01D5/24; G; G03; G03C; G03C1/00; G03C1/76; G03C1/795; C08J2201/00; C08J2201/04; C08J2201/054; C08J2201/0542; C08J2201/0544; C08J2207/00; C08J2207/04; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S424/00; Y10S424/07; Y10S55/00; Y10S55/42; Y10T; Y10T428/00; Y10T428/13; Y10T428/1334; Y10T428/1345; Y10T428/1352; Y10T428/1376
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 36
Claim 1
Independent Claim
150 words
A shaped article which is selectively permeable to liquids and gases, comprising a polymeric material which is comprised of at least 50% by weight of a copolymer comprising from about 20 to 80% by weight, relative to the total weight of the copolymer, of a copolymerized fluorinated olefin, from about 0 to 40% by weight, relative to the total weight of the copolymer, of a copolymerized olefin and from about 80 to 20% by weight, relative to the total weight of the copolymer, of copolymerized vinyl acetate, wherein at least about 5% by weight of the acetate groups in said copolymer relative to the total quantity thereof in the copolymer, have been converted into OH groups by saponification of said copolymer after the comonomers have been copolymerized to form the copolymer, and wherein the shaped article comprises a precipitation-induced selectively permeable, microporous, open-pore structure which is simultaneously olephilic and oleophobic.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
150 words
A shaped article which is selectively permeable to liquids and gases, comprising a polymeric material which is comprised of at least 50% by weight of a copolymer comprising from about 20 to 80% by weight, relative to the total weight of the copolymer, of a copolymerized fluorinated olefin, from about 0 to 40% by weight, relative to the total weight of the copolymer, of a copolymerized olefin and from about 80 to 20% by weight, relative to the total weight of the copolymer, of copolymerized vinyl acetate, wherein at least about 5% by weight of the acetate groups in said copolymer relative to the total quantity thereof in the copolymer, have been converted into OH groups by saponification of said copolymer after the comonomers have been copolymerized to form the copolymer, and wherein the shaped article comprises a precipitation-induced selectively permeable, microporous, open-pore structure which is simultaneously olephilic and oleophobic.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
57 words
A shaped article as claimed in claim 1, wherein said polymer comprises from about 30 to 70% by weight, relative to its total weight, of copolymerized tetrafluoroethylene, from about 0 to 20% by weight of copolymerized ethylene and from about 70 to 30% by weight, relative to the total weight of the copolymer, of copolymerized vinyl acetate.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
69 words
A shaped article as claimed in claim 1, which comprises a film having effective pores of a diameter within the range from about 0.002 to 10 μm and through which liquids and gases can flow, and which has an inherent, latent capacity for modifying its structure until the limiting case of substantial physical homogeneity of the film is reached in response to chemical treatment, heat treatment or pressure application.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
79 words
A shaped article as claimed in claim 1, which is in the shape of a hollow fiber having a wall which has effective pores of a diameter within the range from about 0.002 to 10 μm and through which liquids and gases can flow and which has an inherent, latent capacity for modifying its structure until the limiting case of substantial physical homogeneity of the wall has been reached in response to chemical treatment, heat treatment or pressure application.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
67 words
A shaped article as claimed in claim 1, which comprises a film having effective pores of a diameter within the range from about 0.002 to 0.05 μm and through which liquids and gases can flow, and which has an inherent, latent capacity for modifying its structure until the limiting case of substantial physical homogeneity has been reached in response to chemical treatment, heat treatment or pressure application.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
75 words
A shaped article as claimed in claim 1, which comprises a hollow fiber having a wall which has effective pores of a diameter within the range from about 0.002 to 0.05 μm and through which liquids and gases can flow, and which has an inherent, latent capacity for modifying its structure until the limiting case of substantial physical homogeneity of the wall has been reached in response to chemical treatment, heat treatment or pressure application.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
67 words
A shaped article as claimed in claim 1, which comprises a film having effective pores of a diameter within the range from about 0.05 to 10 μm and through which liquids and gases can flow, and which has an inherent, latent capacity for modifying its structure until the limiting case of substantial physical homogeneity has been reached in response to chemical treatment, heat treatment or pressure application.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
75 words
A shaped article as claimed in claim 1, which comprises a hollow fiber having a wall which has effective pores of a diameter within the range from about 0.05 to 10 μm and through which liquids and gases can flow, and which has an inherent, latent capacity for modifying its structure until the limiting case of substantial physical homogeneity of the wall has been reached in response to chemical treatment, heat treatment or pressure application.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
A shaped article as claimed in claim 1, which has a substantially homogeneous physical structure, is permeable to liquids and gases by diffusion, and is transparent.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
12 words
A shaped article as claimed in claim 9, which comprises a film.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
13 words
A shaped article as claimed in claim 9, which comprises a hollow fiber.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
59 words
A shaped article as claimed in claim 9, wherein the shaped article includes at least two segmentary regions, one of said regions comprising a microporous, open pore structure which is selectively permeable to liquids and gases, and the second of said regions comprising a substantially homogeneous physical structure which is transparent and permeable to liquids and gases by diffusion.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
18 words
A shaped article as claimed in claim 1, wherein said fluorinated olefin comprises fluorinated ethylene or fluorinated propylene.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
15 words
A shaped article as claimed in claim 12, wherein said fluorinated ethylene comprises perfluorinated ethylene.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
25 words
A shaped article as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least about 80% by weight of the acetate groups have been converted into OH groups.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
156 words
A shaped article as claimed in claim 1 produced by the process comprising the steps of: preparing a copolymer comprising from about 20 to 80% by weight, relative to the total weight of the copolymer, of a copolymerized fluorinated olefin, from about 0 to 40% by weight, relative to the total weight of the copolymer, of a copolymerized olefin and from about 20 to 80% by weight, relative to the total weight of the copolymer, of copolymerized vinyl acetate; saponifying at least 5% by weight of the acetate groups in the copolymer, relative to the total weight thereof in the copolymer, into OH groups after the comonomers have been copolymerized to form said copolymer; providing said copolymer in a liquid solution; forming a shaped article from said liquid solution; and coagulating the copolymer by treating the shaped article with a precipitation liquid to form a shaped article having a microporous, open-pore structure and a stable shape.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
21 words
A shaped article as claimed in claim 1, wherein the shaped article comprises at least two segmentary regions of different porosity.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
32 words
A filtration device useful as an ultra-filter or hemo-filter or for separating or purifying dispersions, emulsions and dissolved macromolecules, comprising as a filtration membrane a shaped article as defined by claim 1.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
63 words
A membrane filter useful for the separation of coarsely dispersed aqueous and gaseous systems, for separating particulate impurities from solutions for infusions, for separating cellular constituents from fermentation solutions, for separating bacteria or viruses from solutions or gases (sterile filters) or for separating very fine particles or aerosols from gases, comprising as the membrane filter a shaped article as defined by claim 1.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
16 words
A reservoir containing low or high molecular-weight substances, comprising a shaped article according to claim 1.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
23 words
A reservoir for containing low or high molecular-weight substances, comprising a shaped article according to claim 1, in the form of an envelope.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
31 words
An information carrier, comprising a shaped article according to claim 1, being structurally converted in at least certain preselected areas, whereby the preselected areas represent information transferred by the shaped article.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
38 words
A device for use in analytical and/or diagnostic processes, comprising a shaped article according to claim 1, for the separation of substances in gaseous and liquid phases and for the qualitative or quantitative evaluation of the separated substances.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
167 words
A process for the preparation of a shaped article as claimed in claim 1, comprising the steps of: providing a liquid solution which includes 1 to 50%, by total weight, of polymeric solute which comprises at least 50% by weight of a copolymer which is comprised of 20 to 80% by weight, relative to the total weight of the copolymer, of a copolymerized fluorinated olefin, from about 0 to 40% by weight, relative to its total weight, of a copolymerized olefin and from about 80 to 20% by weight, relative to its total weight, of copolymerized vinyl acetate; saponifying at least 5% by weight of the acetate groups in the copolymer, relative to the total quantity thereof in the copolymer, into OH groups after the comonomers have been copolymerized to form said copolymer; forming a shaped article from the liquid solution; and coagulating the copolymer by treating the shaped article with a precipitation liquid to form a shaped article having a porous structure and a stable shape.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
68 words
A process as claimed in claim 24, wherein a total of up to about 50% by weight of the polymer dissolved in the solution is comprised of one or more polymers which are miscible with one another and which differ in their qualitative chemical composition from said copolymer, the polymers being selected from a group comprising polyvinylidene fluoride, a polar polyolefin, silicones and a mixture of these polymers.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
85 words
A process as claimed in claim 24, wherein the polymer solution comprises, as the dissolved component, from about 1 to 50% by weight, relative to the total weight of the solution, of a copolymer which is comprised of from about 30 to 70% by weight, relative to its total weight, of copolymerized tetrafluoroethylene, from about 0 to 20% by weight, relative to its total weight, of copolymerized ethylene and from about 70 to 30% by weight, relative to its total weight, of copolymerized vinyl acetate.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
35 words
A process as claimed in claim 24, wherein the copolymer is crosslinked with other similar copolymer units produced according to the present invention, with a mixture of polymers or with at least one multifunctional agent.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
15 words
A process as claimed in claim 24, wherein the shaped article comprises a flat film.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
15 words
A process as claimed in claim 24, wherein the shaped article comprises a hollow fiber.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
17 words
A process as claimed in claim 24, wherein said fluorinated olefin comprises fluorinated ethylene or fluorinated propylene.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
14 words
A process as claimed in claim 30, wherein said fluorinated olefin comprises perfluorinated ethylene.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
25 words
A process as claimed in claim 24, wherein said saponifying step converts at least about 80% by weight of the acetate groups into OH groups.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
51 words
A process for modifying the structure of a shaped article as claimed in claim 1, comprising the steps of: subjecting a shaped article to the action of a chemical agent which is capable of rendering the structure of the copolymer of which the shaped article is formed physically or optically homogeneous.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
25 words
A process as claimed in claim 33, wherein the shaped article is subjected to the action of a chemical medium in the form of vapor.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
47 words
A process for modifying the structure of a shaped article as claimed in claim 1, comprising the steps of: subjecting a shaped article to heat treatment which is capable of rendering the structure of the copolymer of which the shaped article is formed physically or optically homogeneous.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1988-12-09 | 1989-06-10 | 1989-12-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1992-12-09 | 1993-06-10 | 1993-12-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1996-12-09 | 1997-06-10 | 1997-12-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |