Reversed phase membranes

Claim 2

A porous membrane with pore sizes in the range 0.001 to 1 micron characterised by a morphology that is the reversed phase analogue of another porous membrane and wherein the material which forms the reversed phase porous membrane is a thermosetting resin.

Claim 3

A membrane according to claim 1 where the thermosetting resin is selected from the group comprising an epoxy resin, a phenolic resin or a polyurethane.

Claim 4

A membrane according to claim 1 where the thermosetting resin is a chemically modified thermosetting resin.

Claim 5

The porous membrane of claim 1, wherein said membrane having pore sizes in the range of 0.001 to 1 micron characterized by a morphology that is the reversed phase analogue of another porous membrane is obtained by a process comprising the steps of: (i) filling at least some of the pores of the another membrane with a fluid that will form the analogue membrane, (ii) forming the analogue membrane in the pores of the first membrane, and (iii) removing the another pores membrane from the analogue membrane.

Claim 6

The porous membrane of claim 4, wherein said process comprises the steps of: (i) providing said another porous membrane, the pores of which are substantially interconnected, (ii) filling sufficient of the pores of the another membrane with a fluid that will form the analogue membrane to provide a continuity of the fluid through the another membrane, (iii) setting the fluid in the filled pores of the another membrane, and (iv) removing the another membrane from the analogue membrane whereby the pores of the another membrane define the walls of the analogue membrane and the walls of the pores of the another membrane define the pores of the analogue membrane.

Claim 7

The porous membrane of claim 4, wherein the analogue forming fluid is formed from at least two components which are mixed prior to its introduction into the pores of the another membrane.

Claim 8

The porous membrane of claim 4, wherein the analogue forming fluid is formed from at least two components which are mixed in situ.

Claim 9

The porous membrane of claim 4, wherein an inherent property of the another membrane which is not an inherent property of the analogue forming fluid is used as a means for removing the first membrane.

Claim 10

The porous membrane of claim 4, wherein the another membrane is a polypropylene or polyamide membrane and the analogue forming fluid is selected from the group consisting of epoxy resins, silic acid esters, phenolic resins, zirconium salts and silicon salts.

Claim 11

The porous membrane of claim 9, wherein the silic acid ester is tetraethoxysilane.

Claim 12

The porous membrane of claim 10, wherein the tetraethoxysilane is partly hydrolyzed before or after its introduction into the pores of the first membrane.

Claim 13

The porous membrane of claim 4, wherein the chemical characteristics of the analogue membrane are varied prior to, during or subsequent to the removal of the another membrane.

Claim 14

A porous membrane with pore sizes in the range of 0.001 to 1 micron characterised by a morphology that is the reversed phase analogue of another porous membrane and wherein the material which forms the reversed phase porous membrane is zirconia or a stabilised derivative thereof.

Claim 15

A porous membrane with pore sizes in the range of 0.001 to 1 micron characterised by a morphology that is the reversed phase analogue of another porous membrane and wherein the material which forms the reversed phase porous membrane is zirconia or a stabilised derivative thereof.

Claim 16

A porous membrane with the pore sizes in the range 0.001 to 1 micron characterised by a morphology that is the reversed phase analogue of another porous membrane and wherein the material which forms the reversed phase porous membrane is silica or a glassy derivative thereof.

Claim 17

A porous membrane with the pore sizes in the range 0.001 to 1 micron characterised by a morphology that is the reversed phase analogue of another porous membrane and wherein the material which forms the reversed phase porous membrane is silica or a glassy derivative thereof.