Abstract: A microporous polyolefin membrane made of a polyolefin composition containing 1 weight % or more of an ultra-high-molecular-weight polyolefin having a weight-average molecular weight of 7.times.10.sup.5 or more and having a weight-average molecular weight/number-average molecular weight ratio of 10-300, the microporous membrane having a thickness of 0.1-25 .mu.m, a porosity of 35-95%, an average pore diameter of 0.001-0.2 .mu.m and a breaking strength of 0.2 kg or more per 15 mm width is produced by (a) preparing a solution comprising 10-50 weight % of the polyolefin composition and 50-90 weight % of a solvent; (b) extruding the solution through a die; (c) cooling the extruded solution to form a gel-like article; (d) stretching the gel-like article at a temperature equal to or lower than a melting point of the polyolefin composition +10.degree. C; and (e) removing the remaining solvent.

Abstract: A process for producing a relatively thick microporous ultra-high-molecular-weight polyolefin membrane, including the steps of: (1) preparing a solution of an ultra-high-molecular-weight polyolefin having a weight-average molecular weight of 5.times.10.sup.5 or more; (b) extruding the solution from a die while rapidly cooling it in advance to its gelation temperature or below, thereby forming a gel-like sheet; (c) removing at least 10 wt % of the solvent from the gel-like sheet so that the gel-like sheet contains 10 to 90 wt % of the ultra-high-molecular-weight polyolefin; (d) stretching the gel-like sheet at a temperature equal to or lower than that which is 10.degree. C. above the melting point of the ultra-high-molecular-weight polyolefin; and (e) removing the residual solvent from the stretched product.