Abstract: A method of producing microporous membranes includes stretching a multi-layer layer extrudate having first and second layers, the first layer including a first polyolefin and a first diluent, and the second layer including a second polyolefin and a second diluent, the second polyolefin including polypropylene in an amount of 1.0 wt. % to 40.0 wt. %, the polypropylene having an Mw>0.9×106 and a ?Hm?100.0 J/g; removing at least a portion of the diluents to produce a dried membrane having a first length and a first width; stretching the membrane by a first magnification factor of 1.1 to 1.5 and stretching the membrane by a second magnification factor of 1.1 to 1.3; and reducing the width.

Abstract: A method of producing microporous membranes includes stretching a multi-layer layer extrudate having first and second layers, the first layer including a first polyolefin and a first diluent, and the second layer including a second polyolefin and a second diluent, the second polyolefin including polypropylene in an amount of 1.0 wt. % to 40.0 wt. %, the polypropylene having an Mw>0.9×106 and a ?Hm?100.0 J/g; removing at least a portion of the diluents to produce a dried membrane having a first length and a first width; stretching the membrane by a first magnification factor of 1.1 to 1.5 and stretching the membrane by a second magnification factor of 1.1 to 1.3; and reducing the width.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for removing diluent from a polymer extrudate, especially in connection with a process for producing a microporous membrane. The method involves contacting the extrudate with a second solvent in a first stage; contacting the extrudate from the first stage with a third solvent in a second stage; conducting a first stream away from the first stage and/or conducting a second stream away from the second stage; and cooling at least a portion of the first and/or second stream and separating therefrom at least one of a first phase rich in the second solvent or a second phase rich in the third solvent.

Abstract: A method for removing a process solvent (P-sol) from a polymer extrudate, especially in connection with a process for producing a microporous membrane. The method involves contacting the extrudate with chlorinated hydrocarbon (CHC) and hydrofluoroether (HFE) in a first stage; contacting the extrudate from the first stage with HFE in a second stage; combining the first and second waste streams and then separating the P-sol from the combined streams to make an HFE-CHC stream; cooling the HFE-CHC stream to make an HFE-rich phase and a CHC-rich phase; and conducting the CHC-rich phase and/or the HFE-rich phase to step (A).

Abstract: A method for producing a thermoplastic resin micro-porous film wherein a thermoplastic resin and a solvent (A) are melted and kneaded together to prepare a solution, the solution is extruded and cooled to prepare a formed product in a gel state, and the residual solvent (A) is removed from the formed product, characterized in that in the step of removing the solvent (A) use is made of a non-aqueous solvent (B) which is compatible with the solvent (A) and not compatible with the thermoplastic resin, and has a boiling point of 100° or higher and a flashing point of 0° or higher. The use of the non-aqueous solvent (B) provides a production method which allows the removal of a solvent with good efficiency and also with the reduction of a fear of environmental pollution and catching fire.

Abstract: The invention relates to microporous membranes comprising first and second components, the first component being polymer and the second component being aliphatic paraffin having a backbone and pendent groups. The invention also relates to methods for making such membranes, and the use of such membranes, e.g., as battery separator film.

Abstract: The invention relates to microporous polymeric membranes suitable for use as battery separator film. The invention also relates to a method for producing such a membrane, batteries containing such membranes as battery separators, methods for making such batteries, and methods for using such batteries.

Abstract: The invention relates to microporous polymeric membranes suitable for use as battery separator film. The invention also relates to a method for producing such membranes, batteries containing such membranes as battery separators, methods for making such batteries, and methods for using such batteries.

Abstract: An extruder for preparing a polymer-diluent mixture.

Abstract: The invention generally relates to an extruder for preparing a mixture of polymer and diluent. The extruder includes multiple extruder stages, the multiple extruder stages comprising an inlet stage, a dispersion stage, and at least one mixing stage comprising a reverse mixing screw segment having a helical flight that traverses and forms an outer periphery thereof, the helical flight having a plurality of notches positioned therealong. A process for extruding the polymer-diluent mixture is also provided.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for removing a process solvent (P-sol) from a polymer extrudate, especially in connection with a process for producing a microporous membrane. The method involves contacting the extrudate with chlorinated hydrocarbon (CHC) and hydrofluoroether (HFE) in a first stage; contacting the extrudate from the first stage with HFE in a second stage; combining the first and second waste streams and then separating the P-sol from the combined streams to make an HFE-CHC stream; cooling the HFE-CHC stream to make an HFE-rich phase and a CHC-rich phase; and conducting the CHC-rich phase and/or the HFE-rich phase to step (A).

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for removing diluent from a polymer extrudate, especially in connection with a process for producing a microporous membrane. The method involves contacting the extrudate with a second solvent in a first stage; contacting the extrudate from the first stage with a third solvent in a second stage; conducting a first stream away from the first stage and/or conducting a second stream away from the second stage; and cooling at least a portion of the first and/or second stream and separating therefrom at least one of a first phase rich in the second solvent or a second phase rich in the third solvent.

Abstract: A microporous composite membrane comprising a microporous polyolefin membrane and a polypropylene-based coating layer formed on at least one surface of the microporous polyolefin membrane, the polypropylene having a mass-average molecular weight within a range of 5,000-500,000, and solubility of 0.5 g or more in 100 g of toluene at a temperature of 25° C., and the microporous composite membrane having air permeability (converted to the value at 25-?m thickness) of 50-10,000 seconds/100 cc.

Abstract: A microporous composite membrane comprising a microporous polyolefin membrane and a polypropylene-based coating layer formed on at least one surface of the microporous polyolefin membrane, the polypropylene having a mass-average molecular weight within a range of 5,000-500,000, and solubility of 0.5 g or more in 100 g of toluene at a temperature of 25° C., and the microporous composite membrane having air permeability (converted to the value at 25-?m thickness) of 50-10,000 seconds/100 cc.

Abstract: A method for producing a microporous thermoplastic resin membrane comprising the steps of extruding a solution obtained by melt-blending a thermoplastic resin and a membrane-forming solvent through a die, cooling an extrudate to form a gel-like molding, removing the membrane-forming solvent from the gel-like molding by a washing solvent, and removing the washing solvent, the washing solvent having (a) a surface tension of 24 mN/m or less at a temperature of 25° C., (b) a boiling point of 100° C. or lower at the atmospheric pressure, and (c) a solubility of 600 ppm (on a mass basis) or less in water at a temperature of 16° C.; and the washing solvent remaining in the washed molding being removed by using warm water.

Abstract: An emulsion composition of a modified polypropylene. It can have exceedingly improved emulsion stability because the modified polypropylene used has extremely high solubility in solvents and is easily emulsifiable. The modified-polypropylene emulsion composition comprises water and a modified polypropylene dispersed and emulsified therein, and is characterized in that the modified polypropylene has a racemic diad content [r] of 0.12 to 0.88 and has hydrophilic functional groups in a number of 0.5 or larger on the average per molecular chain of the polypropylene.

Abstract: A method for producing a modified polyolefin solution, which can reduce polymer loss, solvent loss and further number of steps, and thus has excellent productivity and economic efficiency in a series of steps, wherein an ?-olefin is polymerized to obtain a polyolefin, followed by modification with a modifying agent to produce a modified polyolefin solution, characterized by comprising a step wherein an ?-olefin is polymerized in the presence of polymerization catalyst in liquid phase to obtain a polyolefin as a polymer solution or slurry state and a step wherein thus obtained polymer is reacted with a modifying agent to modify a polyolefin, and in that the polymer is not isolated, not recovered, nor substantially dried, in a method for producing a modified polyolefin solution by modification, using a modification agent, of a polyolefin obtained by polymerization of an ?-olefin.

Abstract: A method for producing a thermoplastic resin micro-porous film wherein a thermoplastic resin and a solvent (A) are melted and kneaded together to prepare a solution, the solution is extruded and cooled to prepare a formed product in a gel state, and the residual solvent (A) is removed from the formed product, characterized in that in the step of removing the solvent (A) use is made of a non-aqueous solvent (B) which is compatible with the solvent (A) and not compatible with the thermoplastic resin, and has a boiling point of 100° or higher and a flashing point of 0° or higher. The use of the non-aqueous solvent (B) provides a production method which allows the removal of a solvent with good efficiency and also with the reduction of a fear of environmental pollution and catching fire.

Abstract: A process is provided for the regeneration of a vanadium-phosphorus oxide catalyst which has been used in a process for the preparation of maleic anhydride by oxidizing butane. The used catalyst particles are removed from the fluidized bed reactor and subjected to impact with each other and/or with structural surfaces such that the deteriorated layer is peeled away. Various forms of equipment may be employed such as pneumatic classifiers, jet mills and jetted fluidized beds.

Abstract: A lubricant and combination lubricant and refrigerant composition for use in a refrigerating machine in which a substitute freon refrigerant, which lubricant contains a polymer of a fumaric ester or a fumaric ester and a copolymerizable alkylene, and optionally contains an organic carboxylic ester or a polyalkylene glycol with a kinematic viscosity of 2 to 30 cSt. The lubricant is compatible with substitute freon refrigerants such as hydrogen-containing halogenated hydrocarbons, particularly R 134a, in a wide temperature range, has a high viscosity index, is thermally and chemically stable, and has an excellent lubricity.