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US5547551A
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Ultra-thin integral composite membrane
Assignee: W.L. Gore and Associates Inc
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Filing: 1995-03-15
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Granted: 1996-08-20
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Expires: 2015-03-15
Abstract
Abstract An ultra-thin composite membrane is provided which includes a base material and an ion exchange resin. The base material is a membrane which is defined by a thickness of less than 1 mil (0.025 mm) and a microstructure characterized by nodes interconnected by fibrils, or a microstructure characterized by fibrils with no nodes present. The ion exchange resin substantially impregnates the membrane such that the membrane is essentially air impermeable.
Inventors
- 👤 Bamdad Bahar
- 👤 Alex R. Hobson
- 👤 Jeffrey A. Kolde
- 👤 David Zuckerbrod
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 10:02
CPC Classifications
B; B01; B01D; B01D67/00; B01D67/0081; B01D67/0088; B01D69/00; B01D69/14; B01D69/141; C; C08; C08J; C08J5/00; C08J5/20; C08J5/22; C08J5/2206; C08J5/2218; C08J5/2231; C08J5/2243; C08J5/225; C25; C25B; C25B13/00; C25B13/04; C25B13/08; H; H01; H01M; H01M8/00; H01M8/10; H01M8/1016; H01M8/1018; H01M8/102; H01M8/1023; H01M8/1039; H01M8/1041; H01M8/1044; H01M8/1058; H01M8/106; H01M8/1062; C08J2327/00; C08J2327/02; C08J2327/12; C08J2327/18; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E60/00; Y02E60/30; Y02E60/50
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 27
Claim 1
Independent Claim
69 words
An ultra-thin composite membrane comprising: (a) an expanded polytetrafluoroethylene membrane having a porous microstructure of polymeric fibrils and a total thickness of less than 0.025 mm; and (b) an ion exchange material impregnated throughout the membrane, the impregnated expanded polytetrafluoroethylene membrane having a Gurley number of greater than 10,000 seconds, wherein the ion exchange material substantially impregnates the membrane to render an interior volume of the membrane substantially occlusive.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
69 words
An ultra-thin composite membrane comprising: (a) an expanded polytetrafluoroethylene membrane having a porous microstructure of polymeric fibrils and a total thickness of less than 0.025 mm; and (b) an ion exchange material impregnated throughout the membrane, the impregnated expanded polytetrafluoroethylene membrane having a Gurley number of greater than 10,000 seconds, wherein the ion exchange material substantially impregnates the membrane to render an interior volume of the membrane substantially occlusive.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
The ultra-thin composite membrane of claim 1, and wherein the membrane comprises a microstructure of nodes interconnected by fibrils.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
42 words
The ultra-thin composite membrane of claim 1, and wherein the ion exchange material is selected from a group consisting of perfluorinated sulfonic acid resin, perfluorinated carboxylic acid resin, polyvinyl alcohol, divinyl benzene, styrene-based polymers, and metal salts with or without a polymer.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
38 words
The ultra-thin composite membrane of claim 1, and wherein the ion exchange material is a perfluorosulfonic acid/tetrafluoroethylene copolymer resin dissolved in a solvent solution selected from a group consisting of water, ethanol, propanol, butanol, methanol, and combinations thereof.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
31 words
The ultra-thin composite membrane of claim 1, further comprising a reinforcement backing bonded to the membrane wherein the reinforcement backing is selected from a group consisting of woven and nonwoven materials.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
32 words
The ultra-thin composite membrane of claim 5, and wherein the woven materials are selected from the group consisting of: weaves of expanded porous polytetrafluoroethylene fibers, webs of polypropylene, and netting of polypropylene.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
15 words
The ultra-thin composite membrane of claim 5, and wherein the nonwoven material is spun-bonded polypropylene.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
64 words
An ultra-thin composite membrane comprising: (a) a membrane having a porous microstructure and a total thickness of less than 13 μm; and (b) an ion exchange material impregnated throughout the membrane, the impregnated expanded polytetrafluoroethylene membrane having a Gurley number of greater than 10,000 seconds, wherein the ion exchange material substantially impregnates the membrane to render an interior volume of the membrane substantially occlusive.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
64 words
An ultra-thin composite membrane comprising: (a) a membrane having a porous microstructure and a total thickness of less than 13 μm; and (b) an ion exchange material impregnated throughout the membrane, the impregnated expanded polytetrafluoroethylene membrane having a Gurley number of greater than 10,000 seconds, wherein the ion exchange material substantially impregnates the membrane to render an interior volume of the membrane substantially occlusive.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
14 words
The ultra-thin composite membrane of claim 8, and wherein the membrane is expanded polytetrafluoroethylene.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
42 words
The ultra-thin composite membrane of claim 8, and wherein the ion exchange material is selected from a group consisting of perfluorinated sulfonic acid resin, perfluorinated carboxylic acid resin, polyvinyl alcohol, divinyl benzene, styrene-based polymers, and metal salts with or without a polymer.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
38 words
The ultra-thin composite membrane of claim 8, and wherein the ion exchange material is a perfluorosulfonic acid/tetrafluoroethylene copolymer resin dissolved in a solvent solution selected from a group consisting of water, ethanol, propanol, butanol, methanol and combinations thereof.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
31 words
The ultra-thin composite membrane of claim 8, further comprising a reinforcement backing bonded to the membrane wherein the reinforcement backing is selected from a group consisting of woven and nonwoven materials.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
32 words
The ultra-thin composite membrane of claim 12, and wherein the woven materials are selected from a group consisting of: weaves of expanded porous polytetrafluoroethylene fibers, webs of polypropylene, and netting of polypropylene.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
15 words
The ultra-thin composite membrane of claim 12, and wherein the nonwoven material is spun-bonded polypropylene.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
64 words
An ion exchange membrane comprising: (a) a membrane comprising an expanded polytetrafluoroethylene having a porous microstructure defined substantially of only fibrils; and (b) an ion exchange material impregnated throughout the membrane, the impregnated expanded polytetrafluoroethylene membrane having a Gurley number of greater than 10,000 seconds, wherein the ion exchange material substantially impregnates the membrane to render an interior volume of the membrane substantially occlusive.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
64 words
An ion exchange membrane comprising: (a) a membrane comprising an expanded polytetrafluoroethylene having a porous microstructure defined substantially of only fibrils; and (b) an ion exchange material impregnated throughout the membrane, the impregnated expanded polytetrafluoroethylene membrane having a Gurley number of greater than 10,000 seconds, wherein the ion exchange material substantially impregnates the membrane to render an interior volume of the membrane substantially occlusive.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
28 words
The ion exchange membrane of claim 15 wherein the porous microstructure of the membrane defines pores having an average size of from about 0.05 to about 0.4 μm.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
18 words
The ion exchange membrane of claim 16, and wherein the average pore size is less than 0.2 μm.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
19 words
The ion exchange membrane of claim 16, and wherein the total thickness of the membrane is less 13 μm.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
24 words
The ion exchange membrane of claim 18 and wherein the total thickness of the membrane is from about 1.32 μm to about 12.7 μm.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
42 words
The ion exchange membrane of claim 15, and wherein the ion exchange material is selected from a group consisting of perfluorinated sulfonic acid resin, perfluorinated carboxylic acid resin, polyvinyl alcohol, divinyl benzene, styrene-based polymers, and metal salts with or without a polymer.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
37 words
The ion exchange membrane of claim 15, and wherein the ion exchange material is a perfluorosulfonic acid/tetrafluoroethylene copolymer resin dissolved in a solvent solution selected from a group including water, ethanol, propanol, butanol, methanol, and combinations thereof.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
33 words
The ion exchange membrane of claim 15, further comprising a reinforcement backing bonded to the porous polymeric membrane, wherein the reinforcement backing is selected from a group consisting of woven and nonwoven materials.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
32 words
The ion exchange membrane of claim 22, and wherein the woven materials are selected from a group consisting of: weaves of expanded porous polytetrafluoroethylene fibers, webs of polypropylene, and netting of polypropylene.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
15 words
The ion exchange membrane of claim 22, and wherein the nonwoven material is spun-bonded polypropylene.
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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) | 1999-08-20 | 2000-02-19 | 2000-08-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-08-20 | 2004-02-19 | 2004-08-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-08-20 | 2008-02-19 | 2008-08-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |