US5328613A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Polymer membranes for separation processes
Assignee: Corning Inc
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Filing: 1993-01-21
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Granted: 1994-07-12
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Expires: 2013-01-21
Abstract
Abstract Semi-permeable microporous polymer bodies, such as porous plates or membranes for separation processes, are provided, these being made of durable high-temperature thermoplastics, eg., a liquid crystal polymer, by a process comprising melt-mixing the polymer with high loadings of leachable glass and then leaching the glass from the polymer to leave a continuous relict polymer network, the network typically demonstrating pore volumes of 50 percent or more and average pore diameters in the 0.1-10 micron range.
Inventors
- 👤 George H. Beall
- 👤 Kishor P. Gadkaree
- 👤 Thomas P. Grandi
- 👤 Candace J. Quinn
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 18:13
CPC Classifications
C; C08; C08J; C08J9/00; C08J9/26; B; B01; B01D; B01D67/00; B01D67/0002; B01D67/0023; B01D67/003; B01D2323/00; B01D2323/12; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S264/00; Y10S264/48; Y10S264/62
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
133 words
A semi-permeable microporous polymer body having a pore volume of at least about 50 volume percent and a mean pore diameter in the range of about 0.1-10 microns which is composed at least predominantly of a high-temperature polymer selected from the group consisting of polyether ketones, poly(aryl ether) ketones, polyether-ether ketones, liquid crystal polymers, polysulfones, polyether imides, and mixtures, copolymers, or other combinations thereof, said body being made by a method comprising (i) melt-mixing a batch mixture comprising the high-temperature polymer and a finely divided leachable glass to form a two-phase glass-polymer blend comprising a continuous polymer network and an intercommunicating glass phase; (ii) forming the blend into a glass-polymer body of a selected shape; and (iii) leaching the intercommunicating glass phase from the glass-polymer body without disruption of the continuous polymer network.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
133 words
A semi-permeable microporous polymer body having a pore volume of at least about 50 volume percent and a mean pore diameter in the range of about 0.1-10 microns which is composed at least predominantly of a high-temperature polymer selected from the group consisting of polyether ketones, poly(aryl ether) ketones, polyether-ether ketones, liquid crystal polymers, polysulfones, polyether imides, and mixtures, copolymers, or other combinations thereof, said body being made by a method comprising (i) melt-mixing a batch mixture comprising the high-temperature polymer and a finely divided leachable glass to form a two-phase glass-polymer blend comprising a continuous polymer network and an intercommunicating glass phase; (ii) forming the blend into a glass-polymer body of a selected shape; and (iii) leaching the intercommunicating glass phase from the glass-polymer body without disruption of the continuous polymer network.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
A polymer body in accordance with claim 1 wherein the predominating high-temperature polymers are selected from the group consisting of poly(aryl ether) ketones, polyether-ether ketones, polysulfones, and liquid crystal polymers.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
14 words
A polymer body in accordance with claim 2 which is a rigid porous plate.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
14 words
A polymer body in accordance with claim 2 which is a flexible porous membrane.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
31 words
A flexible porous membrane in accordance with claim 4 which has a pore volume of at least about 70% and a mean pore diameter in the range of about 0.1-2 microns.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
46 words
A polymer body in accordance with claim 2 which consists essentially of high temperature polymers selected from the group consisting of poly(aryl ether) ketones, polyether-ether ketones, polysulfones, and liquid crystal polymers, and wherein liquid crystal polymers comprise at least about 50% by weight of the body.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
32 words
A polymer body in accordance with claim 6 wherein the liquid crystal polymers are selected from the group consisting of p-hydroxybenzoic acid/hydroxynapthoic acid copolymers and terephthalic acid/p-p1 dihydroxy biphenyl-p-hydroxy benzoic acid copolymers.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
15 words
A polymer body in accordance with claim 2 which consists essentially of liquid crystal polymers.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
37 words
A polymer body in accordance with claim 1 which further includes a semi-permeable polymer film having a mean pore diameter in the range of about 0.001-0.1 microns disposed on at least a portion of the surface thereof.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4755540A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1997-07-11 | 1998-01-10 | 1998-07-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2001-07-11 | 2002-01-10 | 2002-07-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2005-07-11 | 2006-01-10 | 2006-07-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |