Porous membrane formed from interpenetrating polymer network having hydrophilic surface
First Claim
1. A porous membrane having a water wettable surface which comprises a porous interpenetrating polymer network of a hydrophobic fluorinated hydrocarbon polymer and a hydrophilic cross-linked polymer, formed from a monomer selected from the group consisting of an hydroxylalkyl acrylate, an hydroxylalkyl methacrylate and N-vinylpyrrolidone, said membrane having a hydrophilic surface formed from said hydrophobic polymer in semi-crystalline form and said hydrophilic polymer, said surface being entirely wettable with an aqueous liquid within a time period of less than about 1 minute.
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Abstract
A porous membrane is formed from an interpenetrating polymer network of a hydrophobic polymer and a polymerized and crosslinked hydrophilic monomeric composition. A solution of the polymer and monomeric composition is cast, exposed to ultraviolet radiation, coagulated and dried. The resulting dried membrane is annealed in order to render its surface hydrophilic.
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Citations
5 Claims
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1. A porous membrane having a water wettable surface which comprises a porous interpenetrating polymer network of a hydrophobic fluorinated hydrocarbon polymer and a hydrophilic cross-linked polymer, formed from a monomer selected from the group consisting of an hydroxylalkyl acrylate, an hydroxylalkyl methacrylate and N-vinylpyrrolidone, said membrane having a hydrophilic surface formed from said hydrophobic polymer in semi-crystalline form and said hydrophilic polymer, said surface being entirely wettable with an aqueous liquid within a time period of less than about 1 minute.
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2. The porous membrane of claim 1 wherein said membrane has a maximum pore size between about 0.01 and 0.1 microns.
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3. The porous membranes of claim 2 wherein said membrane has an isopropyl alcohol bubble point of between about 40 psi and about 140 psi, a water flux of above about 3500 gallons per foot per day at 25 psi for a membrane having a bubble point of about 40 psi, a water flux of above about 1000 gallons per foot per day at 25 psi for a membrane having a bubble point of about 80 psi, and a water flux above about 1000 gallons per foot per day at 25 psi for a membrane having a bubble point of about 140 psi.
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4. The membrane of any one of claims 1, 2 or 3 wherein the hydrophobic polymer is polyvinylidene fluoride.
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5. The porous membrane of any one of claims 1, 2, or 3 wherein said hydrophilic polymer is formed from an hydroxylalkyl acrylate.
Specification