Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
38 words
A microporous, fast response, cross-linked gel obtained from a polymeric precursor, the gel of sufficient flexibility to enable said gel to be reversibly responsive to change in an environmental condition, wherein said polymeric precursor is a cellulose ether.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
38 words
A microporous, fast response, cross-linked gel obtained from a polymeric precursor, the gel of sufficient flexibility to enable said gel to be reversibly responsive to change in an environmental condition, wherein said polymeric precursor is a cellulose ether.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
The microporous gel of claim 1, wherein said cellulose ether is selected from the group consisting of methylcellulose, hydroxypropylmethylcellulose, hydroxypropylcellulose, hydroxyethylcellulose, carboxymethylcellulose and hydroxymethylcellulose.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
33 words
The microporous gel of claims 1 or 2, wherein said gel has a pore size ranging from about 0.005 to 50.0 microns and a strut thickness ranging from about 0.005 to 50.0 microns.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
11 words
The microporous gel of claim 1, wherein the gel is physically-crosslinked.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
The microporous gel of claim 1, wherein the gel is a component of an interpenetrating polymer network.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
The microporous gel of claim 1 having a pore size of no greater than 10 microns.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
81 words
A method of making a microporous, reversibly responsive gel, comprising: preparing a polymer solution having a certain initial concentration of a polymer precursor which is a cellulose ether; initiating phase separation of the polymer to produce a phase separated state; crosslinking the polymer in its phase separated state for a certain crosslinking reaction time to produce a gel with a microstructure having sufficient flexibility to be reversibly responsive to a change in an environmental condition; and allowing gelation to be completed.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
81 words
A method of making a microporous, reversibly responsive gel, comprising: preparing a polymer solution having a certain initial concentration of a polymer precursor which is a cellulose ether; initiating phase separation of the polymer to produce a phase separated state; crosslinking the polymer in its phase separated state for a certain crosslinking reaction time to produce a gel with a microstructure having sufficient flexibility to be reversibly responsive to a change in an environmental condition; and allowing gelation to be completed.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 7, wherein the step of crosslinking the polymer comprises photochemically crosslinking the polymer.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 7, wherein if the polymer is chemically crosslinked, then the step of crosslinking further comprises chemically crosslinking the polymer prior to its phase separated state.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 7, wherein the step of initiating phase separation comprises the step of increasing temperature of said polymer from below a lower critical solution temperature to above the lower critical solution temperature.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 7, further comprising adjusting at least one variable selected from the group consisting of initial polymer concentration and crosslinking reaction time during phase separation.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of claim 11, comprising adjusting the initial polymer concentration by increasing said concentration so that said microporous gel has a decreased porosity relative to a microporous gel in which said initial polymer concentration is not increased.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
54 words
The method of claim 9, further comprising adjusting the crosslinking reaction time prior to phase separation by increasing said reaction time, so that said microporous gel has a pore size and strut thickness that are decreased relative to a microporous gel in which said crosslinking reaction time prior to phase separation is not increased.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method of claim 11, comprising adjusting the crosslinking reaction time during phase separation by increasing said time, so that said microporous gel has pores that are more interconnected relative to a microporous gel in which said crosslinking reaction time during phase separation is not increased.