Abstract: There is an ionomer composite membrane comprising at least one laterally adjacent region and laterally isolated regions occupying about 0.1 to 80% by volume of the membrane and associated with pores having an average pore diameter dimension of about 0.1 to 150 microns. The membrane has an average thickness of about 3 to 500 microns and comprises a first material and a second material. A first region in the membrane comprises the first material and a second region comprises the second material. The first material comprises an ionomer. There is also a cell including the membrane. There also are related methods of making and using the membrane and cell.

Abstract: The present invention is directed toward a nonwoven fiber web material comprised of thermoset fibers that has a machine direction and a cross direction with elastic stretch and recovery properties in the cross direction.

Abstract: This invention provides a multi-layer article comprising a first electrode material, a second electrode material, and a porous separator disposed between and in contact with the first and the second electrode materials, wherein the porous separator comprises a nanoweb consisting essentially of a plurality of nanofibers of a fully aromatic polyimide. Also provided is a method for preparing the multi-layer article, and an electrochemical cell employing the same. A multi-layer article comprising a polyimide nanoweb with enhanced properties is also provided.

Abstract: This invention provides a multi-layer article comprising a first electrode material, a second electrode material, and a porous separator disposed between and in contact with the first and the second electrode materials, wherein the porous separator comprises a nanoweb consisting essentially of a plurality of nanofibers of a fully aromatic polyimide. Also provided is a method for preparing the multi-layer article, and an electrochemical cell employing the same. A multi-layer article comprising a polyimide nanoweb with enhanced properties is also provided.

Abstract: This invention provides a multi-layer article comprising a first electrode material, a second electrode material, and a porous separator disposed between and in contact with the first and the second electrode materials, wherein the porous separator comprises a nanoweb consisting essentially of a plurality of nanofibers of a fully aromatic polyimide. Also provided is a method for preparing the multi-layer article, and an electrochemical cell employing the same. A multi-layer article comprising a polyimide nanoweb with enhanced properties is also provided.

Abstract: A nanoweb that contains a plurality of nanofibers wherein the nanofibers contain a fully aromatic polyimide that is characterized by having a crystallinity index (CI) and a degree of imidization (DOI). The product of the DOI and the CI is between 0.08 and 0.25 or above a lower limit to obtain a desired tensile strength and/or toughness. The nanoweb may for example have a tensile strength per unit basis weight of greater than 15 kg/cm2 per gram per square meter unit of basis weight.

Abstract: A bag filter having a support structure clothed in a filter bag. The cloth of the filter bag is a composite of at least one substrate layer and at least one nanoweb bonded thereto in a face-to-face relationship. The nanoweb is positioned at the surface of the filter bag first exposed to the hot particle laden gas stream and can have a basis weight of greater than about 2 gsm.

Abstract: This invention provides a multi-layer article comprising a first electrode material, a second electrode material, and a porous separator disposed between and in contact with the first and the second electrode materials, wherein the porous separator comprises a nanoweb consisting essentially of a plurality of nanofibers of a fully aromatic polyimide. Also provided is a method for preparing the multi-layer article, and an electrochemical cell employing the same. A multi-layer article comprising a polyimide nanoweb with enhanced properties is also provided.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for enhancing the properties of polyimide nanowebs, the method comprising subjecting a nanoweb consisting essentially of a plurality of nanofibers of an aromatic polyimide to a temperature at least 50 C.° higher than the imidization temperature thereof for a period of time in the range of 5 seconds to 20 minutes, thereby preparing an enhanced nanoweb. Also provided is a multi-layer article comprising the enhanced nanoweb, and an electrochemical cell comprising the multi-layer article.

Abstract: This invention provides an electrochemical cell comprising a housing having disposed therewithin, an electrolyte, and a multi-layer article at least partially immersed in the electrolyte; the multi-layer article comprising a first metallic current collector, a first electrode material in electrically conductive contact with the first metallic current collector, a second electrode material in ionically conductive contact with the first electrode material, a porous separator disposed between and contacting the first electrode material and the second electrode material; and, a second metallic current collector in electrically conductive contact with the second electrode material, wherein the porous separator comprises a nanoweb consisting essentially of a plurality of nanofibers of a fully aromatic polyimide. Also provided is a process for preparing the multi-layer article. Further provided is an electrochemical cell wherein the separator is a polyimide nanoweb with enhanced properties.

Abstract: The invention provides a process comprising heating a polyamic acid fiber to a temperature in the range of a first temperature and a second temperature for a period of time in the range of 5 seconds to 5 minutes to form a polyimide fiber, wherein the first temperature is the imidization temperature of the polyamic acid and the second temperature is the decomposition temperature of the polyimide

Abstract: A method and device for the production of polymer filaments with a diameter of less than one micron. A plurality of polymer components are extruded through a spin pack and then attenuated using gas flows which are accelerated to achieve high velocity by means of a converging, diverging nozzle. The plurality polymer components may be extruded in an islands in the sea or segmented pie configuration. As a result of the high velocity gas flow, the plural components are split apart into their individual components resulting in filaments and fibers having a diameter or minor dimension of less than one micron.

Abstract: The present invention relates to fabrics that can be used in the manufacture of paper. The fabrics preferably have at least three regions of fabric with specified distributions of pore sizes. The fabrics disclosed herein are an effective alternative to conventional dewatering fabrics for removing water from the incipient paper, which can provide energy cost savings in subsequent elevated temperature drying steps.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel spun yarn, and a method and apparatus for the manufacture thereof.

Abstract: The present invention is a staple-fiber yarn, an apparatus for producing the yarn, and a process for stretch breaking filament yarns to produce the staple yarn. The process enables the production of a plurality of products of lot size smaller than a large denier tow product. The process includes a draw zone, a tension control zone, a stretch-break zone and a consolidation zone to form a yarn of staple fibers.

Abstract: A method for stretch breaking fibers to produce a staple yarn and operating a staple fiber spinning machine, and an apparatus for performing such method, that enables the production of a plurality of products of lot size smaller than a large denier tow product. The process includes at least two break zones and a consolidation zone downstream from a second break zone to form a staple yarn. The filaments are broken in a second break zone downstream from the first break zone by increasing the speed of the fiber fed into the process.

Abstract: A composite sheet of a nanoweb bonded to a second web, such that fibers from the second web protrude through the nanoweb in a multiplicity of discontinuous regions.

Abstract: A bag filter having a support structure clothed in a filter bag. The cloth of the filter bag is a composite of at least one substrate layer and at least one nanoweb bonded thereto in a face-to-face relationship. The nanoweb is positioned at the surface of the filter bag first exposed to the hot particle laden gas stream and can have a basis weight of greater than about 2 gsm.

Abstract: A method for stretch breaking fibers to produce a staple yarn and operating a staple fiber spinning machine that enables the production of a plurality of products of lot size smaller than a large denier tow product. The process includes at least two break zones and a consolidation zone downstream from a second break zone to form a staple yarn. The filaments are broken in a second break zone downstream from the first break zone by increasing the speed of the fiber fed into the process.

Abstract: A method for stretch breaking fibers to produce a staple yarn and operating a staple fiber spinning machine that enables the production of a plurality of products of lot size smaller than a large denier tow product. The process includes at least two break zones and a consolidation zone downstream from a second break zone to form a staple yarn. The filaments are broken in a second break zone downstream from the first break zone by increasing the speed of the fiber fed into the process. The yarn includes discontinuous and, optionally, continuous filaments.