US4954388A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Fabric reinforced composite membrane
Assignee: W.L. Gore and Associates Inc
•
Filing: 1988-11-30
•
Granted: 1990-09-04
•
Expires: 2008-11-30
Abstract
Abstract An abrasion-resistant, tear-resistant, multilayer composite membrane, useful in electrolysis, is provided comprising a continuous perfluoro ion exchange polymer film attached to a reinforcing fabric by means of a porous, expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (EPTFE) interlayer. The fabric and EPTFE are rendered hydrophilic and non-gas-locking by coating the interior and exterior surfaces thereof with a perfluoro ion exchange resin of equivalent weight less than 1000. The composite preferably is treated with an ionic perfluoro surfactant. Also provided is a multilayer composite according to the above in which the continuous perfluoro ion exchange film is itself a multilayer construction of a perfluorosulfonate polymer and a thin layer of perfluorocarboxylate polymer in which the perfluorosulfonate polymer interfaces with the EPTFE and the interior and exterior surfaces of the EPTFE and fabric are coated with perfluorosulfonate polymer. Also provided are a method of making the composites and methods of use for these fabric reinforced thin membrane structures as separators in electrolytic cells, and as selective barriers in permeation separation and facilitated transport operations.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert S. Mallouk
- 👤 Phillip A. Branca
- 👤 Randal L. Perry
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 23:34
CPC Classifications
C; C08; C08J; C08J5/00; C08J5/20; C08J5/22; C08J5/2206; C08J5/2275; C08J5/2281; B; B01; B01D; B01D69/00; B01D69/10; B01D69/107; B01D69/1071; B01D71/00; B01D71/06; B01D71/30; B01D71/32; C08J2327/00; C08J2327/02; C08J2327/12; C08J2327/18; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T428/00; Y10T428/24; Y10T428/24802; Y10T428/24826; Y10T428/249921; Y10T428/249953; Y10T428/249978; Y10T428/24998; Y10T428/26; Y10T428/31504; Y10T428/3154; Y10T428/31544
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 29
Claim 1
Independent Claim
70 words
A multilayer composite membrane comprising a synthetic fabric bonded at points of contact to one side of a layer of porous, expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (EPTFE), said EPTFE layer having a continuous perfluoro ion exchange polymer film laminated thereto on the side opposite said one side, said fabric and porous EPTFE having a coating on at least a portion of the internal and external surfaces thereof of a perfluoro ion exchange resin.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
70 words
A multilayer composite membrane comprising a synthetic fabric bonded at points of contact to one side of a layer of porous, expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (EPTFE), said EPTFE layer having a continuous perfluoro ion exchange polymer film laminated thereto on the side opposite said one side, said fabric and porous EPTFE having a coating on at least a portion of the internal and external surfaces thereof of a perfluoro ion exchange resin.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
81 words
A multilayer composite membrane comprising a continuous perfluoro ion exchange polymer film having a synthetic fabric layer bonded at points of contact to both sides of said perfluoro ion exchange polymer film in sandwich-like configuration by means of an porous EPTFE interlayer interposed between said ion exchange polymer film and each said synthetic fabric layer, said fabric and porous EPTFE having a coating on at least a portion of the internal and external surfaces thereof of a perfluoro ion exchange resin.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
81 words
A multilayer composite membrane comprising a continuous perfluoro ion exchange polymer film having a synthetic fabric layer bonded at points of contact to both sides of said perfluoro ion exchange polymer film in sandwich-like configuration by means of an porous EPTFE interlayer interposed between said ion exchange polymer film and each said synthetic fabric layer, said fabric and porous EPTFE having a coating on at least a portion of the internal and external surfaces thereof of a perfluoro ion exchange resin.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
The composite of claim 1 wherein said fabric is made from halogen containing synthetic fibers.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
34 words
The composite of claim 1 wherein said fabric is made from synthetic fibers selected from the class consisting of polytetrafluoroethylene, a perfluoro copolymer of tetrafluoroethylene or polytetrafluoroethylene fibers coated with perfluoro copolymers of tetrafluoroethylene.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
34 words
The composite of claim 2 wherein said fabric is made from synthetic fibers selected from the class consisting of polytetrafluoroethylene, a perfluoro copolymer of tetrafluoroethylene or polytetrafluoroethylene fibers coated with perfluoro copolymers of tetrafluoroethylene.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
13 words
The composite of claim 1 or 2 wherein said fabric is woven fabric.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
13 words
The composite of claim 1 or 2 wherein said fabric is nonwoven fabric.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
19 words
The composite of claim 1 or 2 wherein the external surface of the fibers of said fabric is non-ionomeric.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
19 words
The composite of claims 1, 2, 3 or 4 wherein said continuous perfluoro ion exchange polymer film is perfluorosulfonate.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
19 words
The composite of claims 1, 2, 3 or 4 wherein said continuous perfluoro ion exchange polymer film is perfluorocarboxylate.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
34 words
The composite of claim 1 wherein said perfluoro ion exchange polymer film is a bilayer comprising a layer of perfluorosulfonate bonded to a layer of perfluorocarboxylate, wherein said perfluorosulfonate is adjacent said EPTFE layer.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
31 words
The composite of claim 1 or 2 wherein the interior and exterior surfaces of the EPTFE and said fabric are coated with perfluorosulfonic acid polymer of equivalent weight less than 1000.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
31 words
The composite of claim 1 or 2 wherein the interior and exterior surfaces of the EPTFE and said fabric are coated with perfluorocarboxylic acid polymer of equivalent weight less than 1000.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
18 words
The composite of claim 1 or 2 wherein said fabric and EPTFE are impregnated with an ionic surfactant.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
18 words
The composite of claim 1 or 2 wherein said fabric and EPTFE are impregnated with an ionic perfluorosurfactant.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
17 words
The composite of claim 1 or 2 wherein said EPTFE layer is 0.2 to 5 mils thick.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
28 words
The composite of claim 1 wherein said fabric and porous EPTFE have a coating on substantially all internal and external surfaces thereof of a perfluoro ion exchange resin.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
28 words
The composite of claim 2 wherein said fabric and porous EPTFE have a coating on substantially all internal and external surfaces thereof of a perfluoro ion exchange resin.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
27 words
The composite of claim 1 or 2 wherein the peel strength of said bond between said fabric and EPTFE layer exceeds 30 grams per inch of width.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
42 words
The composite of claim 1 or 2 wherein the peel strength of said bond between said fabric and EPTFE layer exceeds 30 grams per inch of width after immersion of said composite in water maintained at 90°-100° C. for over 22 hours.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
17 words
The composite of claim 1 or 2 used as a reinforced thin selective barrier in chemical separations.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
20 words
The composite of claim 1 or 2 used as an electrolytic separator between anode and cathode compartments in an electrolyzer.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
17 words
The composite of claim 1 or 2 used as a thin continuous barrier in permeation separation operations.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
17 words
The composite of claim 1 or 2 used as a thin continuous barrier in facilitated transport operations.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
35 words
The composite of claim 1 or 2 wherein the interior and exterior surfaces of the EPTFE and said fabric are coated with a salt form of a perfluorosulfonate polymer of equivalent weight less than 1000.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
35 words
The composite of claim 1 or 2 wherein the interior and exterior surfaces of the EPTFE and said fabric are coated with a salt form of a perfluorocarboxylate polymer of equivalent weight less than 1000.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
15 words
The composite of claim 2 wherein said fabric is made from halogen containing synthetic fibers.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4194041A
Cited
US4604170A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1993-09-03 | 1994-03-05 | 1994-09-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-09-03 | 1998-03-05 | 1998-09-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-09-03 | 2002-03-05 | 2002-09-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |