Abstract: A composite product is formed from a honeycomb panel having an array of hexagonal tubular cells which clamped between two press plates where a layer of a foaming agent is applied to only the bottom press plate such that the foaming agent expands into the cells. An array of grooves is provided in the top press plate and connected at one or both edges of the plate to a source of vacuum so as to draw air through the grooves and cells. A sheet of a polyethylene material having the characteristics that it is permeable to air, substantially impermeable to liquid and resistant to bonding to the foam is applied onto the press plate to prevent the foam entering the grooves and bonding to the press plate while allowing the air to be drawn from the cells.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an that includes a substrate; and a nanoporous coating disposed thereon; the nanoporous coating having a thickness of about 5 nanometers to about 10 micrometers; where an interface between the substrate and the nanoporous coating is disposed at an angle of about 60 degrees to about 120 degrees to a horizontal; the nanoporous coating being in contact with a liquid; the nanoporous coating being operative to improve the critical heat flux by an amount of about 20% to about 100% over a surface that does not have a nanoporous coating.

Abstract: Systems and techniques involving optical coatings for semiconductor devices. An implementation includes a substantially isotropic, heterogeneous anti-reflective coating having a substantially equal thickness normal to any portion of a substrate independent of the orientation of the portion.

Abstract: A Pd alloy membrane and method of making are described.

Abstract: The invention provides a process for improving the antifouling properties and for increasing the selectivity of commercial composite polyamide nanofiltration (NF) and reverse osmosis (RO) membranes comprising circulating a low concentration of water soluble monomers and an initiating redox couple in an aqueous solvent, without transverse pressure over the surface of the membrane thereby effecting a free-radical graft polymerization on the surface of the membrane.

Abstract: A method of forming a catalytic region on a porous structure having an exterior surface and a plurality of pores, the method comprising: forming a supercritical dispersion, wherein the supercritical dispersion comprises a plurality of particles dispersed in a supercritical fluid; exposing the porous structure to the supercritical dispersion; and depositing the plurality of particles from the supercritical dispersion onto the porous structure, wherein each one of the deposited plurality of particles is catalytic, thereby forming one or more catalytic regions on the porous structure. The method is particularly well suited for creating catalytic regions within pre-formed microporous structures.

Abstract: The invention relates to polymeric ultrafiltration or microfiltration membranes of, for instance, Halar, PVDF or PP, incorporating PVME or vinyl methyl ether monomers. The PVME may be present as a coating on the membrane or dispersed throughout the membrane or both. The membranes are preferably hydrophilic with a highly asymmetric structure with a reduced pore size and/or absence of macrovoids as a result of the addition of PVME. The PVME maybe cross-linked. The invention also relates to methods of hydrophilising membranes and/or preparing hydrophilic membranes via thermal or diffusion induced phase separation processed.

Abstract: An object of the invention is to provide a polishing pad excellent in durability and in the adhesiveness between a polishing layer and a base material layer. The first invention relates to a polishing pad comprising a polishing layer arranged on a base material layer, wherein the polishing layer comprises a thermosetting polyurethane foam having roughly spherical interconnected cells having an average cell diameter of 20 to 300 ?m, the polyurethane foam comprises an isocyanate component and an active hydrogen-containing compound as starting components, and the active hydrogen-containing compound comprises 30 to 85% by weight of a high-molecular-weight polyol having 2 to 4 functional groups and a hydroxyl value of 20 to 100 mg KOH/g.

Abstract: A method for producing a filter element involving applying a membrane layer to a carrier substrate, etching a membrane chamber, producing pores in the membrane layer, subjecting the membrane layer to an additional treatment to increase the mechanical strength.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a titania composite membrane for separating water/alcohol mixtures and a method of preparation thereof, and more particularly to the titania composite membrane and the method of preparation thereof, wherein a surface of a porous support is modified with silica xerogel and ?-alumina sol and titania sol is coated on the modified surface to form a titania surface layer and then the obtained titania surface layer is dried and calcined to optimize performance of separation and promote thermal stability. The titania composite membrane of the present invention has excellent properties such as thermal stability, mechanical strength and good perm-selectivity for water molecule in water/alcohol mixtures due to the hydrophilic property of the titania surface layer, thus being applicable to the membrane for separating water/alcohol mixtures.

Abstract: Disclosed are nanoporous carbonaceous membranes and related devices, along with associated methods.

Abstract: Provided is a fluorine substituted oligomeric or polymeric ester including the reaction product of a fluorine substituted acrylate or a fluorine substituted methacrylate; an unsaturated anhydride; and an alkyl acrylate or an alkyl methacrylate. Also provided is a method of making the composition.

Abstract: The invention relates to a porous material comprising a substrate based on at least one organic polymer A and a coating, where vii) the uncoated substrate based on the organic polymer A is macroporous, viii) the surface of the macroporous substrate is coated with a polymer B based on reactive resins, and ix) this coating with a polymer B is nanoporous and the mean diameter of the nanopores is not more than 1000 nm, and recording materials being excepted. The invention also relates to a process for producing the porous material and to the use of the porous material as a filter for gases or liquids. Finally, the invention relates to filters comprising the porous material, and to a process for filtering gases or liquids.

Abstract: Thin layers of a mixed composition are deposited on a porous substrate by chemical vapor deposition in an inert atmosphere at high temperature. The resulting membrane has excellent stability to water vapor at high temperatures. An exemplary membrane comprises an amorphous mixed-element surface layer comprising silica and at least one oxide of additional element, an optional porous substrate on which said surface layer is deposited, and a porous support on which said substrate or mixed-element surface layer is deposited, wherein the permeance of the membrane is higher than 1×10?7 mol m?2s?1Pa?1 and the selectivity of H2 over CO, CO2, and CH4 is larger than 100, and wherein the H2 permeance of the membrane after exposure to a stream containing 60 mol % water vapor at 673 K for 120 h is at least 50% of its initial H2 permeance.

Abstract: A method for generating a porous network of supra-molecular devices includes the steps of: a) providing self-organizing molecules comprising connecting bonds and side-groups; b) generating a two-dimensional layer of the molecules on an unstructured surface, wherein self-organizing leads to an at least partially regular network of cells, each cell comprising a number of said self-organizing molecules and each cell offering a functional center; and c) further depositing a predefined amount of said self-organizing molecules and/or of other functional molecules on said two-dimensional layer, wherein these further deposited molecules accommodating in said functional centers of said cells, one or more of said further deposited molecules per cell, wherein said further deposited molecule comprises a multi-stable architecture together with the cell hosting the further deposited molecule.

Abstract: A composite membrane for fuel cell applications includes a support substrate with a predefined void volume. The void volume is at least partially filled with an ion conducting polymer composition. Characteristically, the ion conducting polymer composition includes a first polymer with a cyclobutyl moiety and a second polymer that is different than the first polymer.

Abstract: This invention relates to a metallic composite membrane for separating hydrogen from a mixed gas, a membrane module and a manufacturing method thereof. The composite membrane consists of a three-layer sandwich structure, e.g. the porous metal substrate, an intermediate layer and the hydrogen-selective dense thin metal layer. In the embodiments of the invention, the porous metal substrates were first pretreated to reduce their surface roughness without reducing their gas permeability. The pretreated substrates were coated with intermediate layer, wherein the intermediate layer served as not only a barrier layer to prevent interdiffusion between the substrate and the hydrogen-selective layer, but also a surface modifier to reduce surface roughness and pore size of the substrate. A hydrogen-selective metal layer was then deposited on the intermediate layer-coated substrate by coating methods.

Abstract: A device for hydrogen separation has a porous support and hydrogen separation material on the support. The support is prepared by heat treatment of metal microparticles, preferably of iron-based or nickel-based alloys that also include aluminum and/or yttrium. The hydrogen separation material is then deposited on the support. Preferred hydrogen separation materials include metals such as palladium, alloys, platinum, refractory metals, and alloys.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the method of producing a ceramic assembly includes: disposing an electrode precursor on an electrolyte precursor having an electrolyte sintering shrinkage, disposing a stabilizer precursor having a stabilizer sintering shrinkage on the electrode precursor on a side opposite the electrolyte precursor to form a precursor assembly, and sintering the precursor assembly to form the ceramic assembly comprising a stabilizer layer, electrode, and electrolyte. The difference between the electrolyte sintering shrinkage and the stabilizer sintering shrinkage is less than or equal to ±1% and a surface of the ceramic assembly has less than or equal to about 5.0 degrees camber, as measured from the horizontal plane.

Abstract: A porous film which is formed using a block copolymer composed of a water-soluble polymer and a water-insoluble polymer, has nanometer-size pores, and in which a desired functional polymer is present on the pore inner walls is provided. The porous film includes a microphase-separated morphology including a continuous phase which is composed primarily of a water-insoluble polymer A, and a plurality of cylindrical microdomains which are composed primarily of a water-soluble polymer B incompatible with the water-insoluble polymer A, distributed within the continuous phase and oriented perpendicular to a surface of the film. The cylindrical microdomains contain therein pores having a cylindrical shape and an average diameter of between 1 and 200 nm.

Abstract: A nanofiber membrane is formed on a microfiber membrane. The nanofiber membrane may be electro sprayed directly onto the microfiber membrane and becomes integrated with the microfiber membrane to form a filter. The microfiber membrane provides structural integrity to for the nanofiber membrane, and an additional microfiber membrane may be added to sandwich the nanofiber membrane.

Abstract: Composite membranes that exhibit long-term resistance to biofouling comprise a porous support and a crosslinked polyamide discriminating layer having an external surface, the discriminating layer comprising a branched poly(alkylene oxide) (PAO) polymer attached to its external surface. The branched PAO polymer typically has the structure of a molecular comb or brush, and is made by polymerization of a PAO macromonomer of the following formula: RO—[(CHR?)n—O]m—V in which R is hydrogen or a C1-20 aliphatic or aromatic group, V is any group containing a polymerizable site, each R? is independently hydrogen or a short chain alkyl group, n is an integer of 1-6, and m is an integer of 1 to about 200. The ? end group can be either polymerized or copolymerized.

Abstract: The invention discloses a composition comprising a hybrid composite organic-inorganic membrane. The hybrid organic-inorganic membrane according to the present invention may comprise an amorphous porous layer incorporating organic functionalities. The amorphous porous layer may be deposited on a porous alumina substrate by chemical vapor deposition (CVD). The amorphous porous layer may comprise a single top-layer (STL), multiple top-layers (MTL) or mixed top-layers (XTL). The substrate may comprise a single layer or multiple graded layers of alumina.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing a device for gas separation, said device comprising a layer system wherein a functional layer consisting of TiO2 and/or ZrO2 having an average pore diameter of less than 1 nm is applied to at least one side of a carrier layer that is porous throughout. Said carrier layer is preferably between 100 ?m and 1 mm thick and comprises continuous pores with an average pore diameter in the ?m range. The functional layer which is applied directly or by means of at least one intermediate layer comprises continuous pores with an average pore diameter of less than 1 nm, especially less than 0.8 nm. The functional layer can advantageously be embodied as a graduated layer. The invention is especially characterised by the symmetrical structure of the device, in which functional layers are applied to both sides of the carrier layer, optionally by means of respectively at least one intermediate layer.

Abstract: This invention provides for a method to control the pore size or bubble point of porous membranes made by phase inversion in a continuous manufacturing process by blending two or more solutions each capable of producing a porous membrane with different pore size or bubble point than the pore size or bubble point of the desired membrane, and blending these solutions by the method of this invention to produce the desired pore size or bubble point. This invention also provides for a method to monitor membrane pore size in a continuous process and adjust pore size during the continuous manufacturing process.

Abstract: A water resistant garment is disclosed having regions of high MVTR while maintaining water resistance. The garment has a fabric layer adjacent one major surface of a nanofiber layer. The surface of the nanofibers are coated with a coating containing a fluorocarbon polymeric moiety and a resin binder or extender which is soluble in water and/or other solvents. The coated nanofiber layer has a contact angle of greater than 145°. The garment optionally includes a second fabric layer adjacent the other major surface of the nanofiber layer. The garment has regions having a Frazier air permeability of between about 0.5 m3/min/m2 and about 8 m3/min/m2, an MVTR of greater than about 500 g/m2/day and a hydrostatic head of at least about 50 cmwc.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for producing highly porous layers, which comprises making available a substrate having a substrate surface; modifying at least sections of the substrate surface so as to produce surface-modified sections in which anchor groups for metal ions are provided; applying at least one MOF to the surface-modified sections of the substrate so as to produce a layer of the MOF. The invention further relates to a composite comprising a substrate and a porous layer of an MOF located on the substrate.

Abstract: A process for the production of a honeycomb-like porous body of 10 to 1000 nm in thickness which is made of a water-insoluble polymer and has pores having diameters of 10 to 100 nm, which comprises the following steps: (1) the step of dissolving a water-insoluble polymer in a water-incompatible organic solvent having a surface tension (?L) of 50 dyne/cm or below to prepare a solution of the polymer in the organic solvent, (2) the step of applying the solution prepared in the step (1) to the surface of a substrate with the proviso that the surface tension (?S) of the substrate, the surface tension (?L) of the organic solvent, and the surface tension (?SL) between the substrate and the solvent satisfy the relationship: ?S??SL>?L, and (3) the step of bringing the solution applied on the substrate into contact with air having a relative humidity of 30% or above to evaporate the organic solvent at such a rate that the coating thickness at applying the solution to the surface of the substrate is reduced to one-f

Abstract: This invention provides a process for making a polyfunctional starburst-shaped fullerene derivative for use as a matrix-reinforcing agent for mesoporous and other porous materials. This invention can include the formation of a highly soluble example of such a derivative from a fullerene and a bifunctional coupling agent. A solution of said matrix-reinforcing agent can be prepared and then applied to a material while the material is still in a process of formation, or the agent can be applied to an already formed solid material. Porous films and bodies containing such a matrix-reinforcing agent can exhibit improved mechanical properties, and can be produced using equipment and techniques common and available to those skilled in the art of porous materials preparations.

Abstract: An amorphous silica hybrid membrane structure comprising a monolithic inorganic porous support, optionally one or more porous inorganic intermediate layers, and an amorphous silica membrane. The amorphous silica hybrid membrane is useful for gas separation applications, for example H2 purification and CO2 capture.

Abstract: A composite semipermeable membrane, which comprises a separating functional layer comprising polyamide formed on a porous substrate film, wherein the separating functional layer comprising polyamide has a mean pore radius of 0.25 nm to 0.35 nm and a vacancy content of 0.2 nm3% to 0.3 nm3%, measured by positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy.

Abstract: There is provided a nanocomposite membrane comprising an Ag-nanoparticle/polymer nanocomposite, in which the Ag-particles are uniformly dispersed in the polymer matrix, and a support membrane for supporting the nanocomposite, as well as a process of preparing said membrane. The nanocomposite membrane of the present invention comprising a neutral Ag-nanoparticle as an olefin carrier, which is chemically stable, has excellent long-term operation performance characteristics as well as high selectivity and permeability. Thus, it can be advantageously used for the separation of olefin from an olefin/paraffin mixture.

Abstract: A composite polyamide reverse osmosis membrane and method of producing same. In a preferred embodiment, the membrane is made by coating a porous polysulfone support with an aqueous solution containing 2 wt % m-phenylenediamine (MPD), and 0.1 wt % di(ethylene glycol) hexyl methyl ether. Next, the excess solution is removed, and the coated support is dipped in 0.1 wt % organic solvent solution of trimesoyl chloride (TMC) in a mixture of alkanes having from 8 to 12 carbon atoms. After draining the TMC solution off, the resulting composite membrane is air dried and then rinsed in a basic aqueous solution. The resultant membrane exhibits a flux of 21.3 gfd and a salt rejection of 98.9% when used at 225 psi for an aqueous solution containing 2000 ppm of NaCl.

Abstract: A method for reducing a dielectric constant of a cured film, includes: introducing a source gas at a flow rate of A, a porogen gas at a flow rate of B, an oxidizing gas at a flow rate of C, and an inert gas into a reaction space in which a substrate is place; increasing a ratio of B/(A+B) used as a parameter for controlling a dielectric constant of a cured film, by a degree substantially or nearly in proportion to a target decrease of dielectric constant of a cured film; applying RF power to the reaction space, thereby depositing a film on the substrate by plasma CVD; and curing the film to remove the porogen material, thereby forming pores in the cured film.

Abstract: The present invention aims at providing a composite semipermeable membrane excellent in water permeability and salt-blocking rate, a smaller content of unreacted polyfunctional amine components in the membrane, the composite semipermeable membrane avoiding the necessity of a membrane washing treatment, and the present invention also aims at providing a process for producing the composite semipermeable membrane. A composite semipermeable membrane having a skin layer, formed on a surface of a porous support, including a polyamide resin obtained by an interfacial polymerization of a polyfunctional amine component and a polyfunctional acid halide component, wherein the content of the unreacted polyfunctional amine component is 200 mg/m2 or less without removing by washing of an unreacted polyfunctional amine component after formation of the skin layer.

Abstract: An improved casting substrate is provided for use in a composite membrane for use as a fluid filtration medium. The composite membrane has good adhesion between the casting substrate and the microporous membrane while maintaining high permeability. The casting substrate comprises a single spunbond layer or a multiple spunbond layers formed of thermoplastic fibers, optionally comprising at least one meltblown layer. The casting substrate allows the membrane casting solution to penetrate the casting substrate uniformly to a controlled depth without penetrating through the entire thickness of the substrate. The casting substrate has good uniformity of mean pore size, basis weight, thickness and surface roughness.

Abstract: The present invention provides a polyvinyl chloride hollow filtration membrane, which mainly comprises the following components: 30-95 wt. % of polyvinyl chloride and 5-70 wt. % of vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate-maleic anhydride terpolymer, wherein the polymerization degree of polyvinyl chloride is from 700 to 2500; the content of vinyl acetate is 10-19 % and the content of maleic anhydride is 18-40 % on a basis of total weight of the terpolymer; and the absolute viscosity of the terpolymer is 1.2-1.9 mPa·s. A method for preparing such a polyvinyl chloride hollow filtration membrane is also provided in the present invention.

Abstract: A process for producing a leather-like sheet, wherein a skin-like layer composed of a resin composition (C) is formed on top of a fibrous substrate (E), comprising; heating and melting a moisture-curable polyurethane hot-melt resin composition (C) which contains a hot-melt urethane prepolymer (A) having isocyanate groups at molecular terminal ends and a colorant (B), and applying said heated and melted resin composition (C) to either [1] a releasable substrate (D) and then bonding the coated surface to a fibrous substrate (E), or [2] a fibrous substrate (E) and then bonding the coated surface to a releasable substrate (D); wherein the colorant (B) contains a polyol with a number average molecular weight within a range from 1,000 to 20,000 as a vehicle (B-1), and a pigment (B-2).

Abstract: A method for making a polishing pad includes providing a non-woven fabric made of a plurality of fibers. The non-woven fabric is submerged with a polymer resin solution. The polymer resin submerged in non-woven fabric is cured to form a porous polymer having an outer face adapted for polishing a workpiece. The outer face of the porous polymer is finished to form a polishing pad with a plurality of naps on the outer face. The plurality of naps on the outer face have a density ranging from 1.0 to 2.0 g/cm3, and the plurality of naps on the outer face have a length ranging from 50 to 600 ?m.

Abstract: The present invention discloses discloses a composite PTFE membrane comprising an expanded PTFE membrane as substrate and a sintered porous PTFE membrane on top of it. The porous PTFE membrane on top has porous structure with interconnected channels formed with a sintering process that fuses the PTFE fine powders coated on the ePTFE membrane. Furthermore, the present invention discloses a method for forming the composite PTFE membrane.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of making a polymeric porous separation membrane for a lithium ion polymer battery, the method comprising: providing a porous polyolefin membrane and a polymer solution of the concentration of 1–20 weight % in an organic solvent fabricated by dissolving in an organic solvent a polymer compound that is stable in an electrolyte containing a lithium salt and can be gelled in the electrolyte, at the temperature of 10–40° C.; and fabricating a polymeric porous separation membrane by coating the polymeric porous polyolefin membrane with the polymer solution. Thus, the porous separation membrane for a lithium ion polymer battery is fabricated by using the polymer solution fabricated at the low temperatures of 10–40° C., and the size of the pores of the coated is proper, so that the containing capacity of the electrolyte and the ion conductivity are good. Further gelling at low pressure is enabled and cohesive force to the electrodes is improved.

Abstract: Anisotropic hydrophobic/hydrophilic nanoporous membranes and methods of forming anisotropic hydrophobic/hydrophilic nanoporous membranes are disclosed. The method of forming the nanoporous membrane includes growing a nanoporous oxide film on a substrate. A nanoporous membrane having a top side and a bottom side can then be formed by partially separating the nanoporous oxide film from the substrate. A fluorocarbon film can be deposited on the top side of the nanoporous membrane by plasma polymerization. The disclosed anisotropic hydrophobic/hydrophilic nanoporous membranes can have extremely different hydrophobicity between the top side and the bottom side of the nanoporous membrane.

Abstract: The invention relates to the production of nanoporous silica dielectric films and to semiconductor devices and integrated circuits comprising these improved films. The nanoporous films of the invention are prepared using silicon containing pre-polymers and are prepared by a process that allows crosslinking at lowered gel temperatures by means of a metal-ion-free onium or nucleophile catalyst.

Abstract: The invention relates to the production of nanoporous silica dielectric films and to semiconductor devices and integrated circuits comprising these improved films. The nanoporous films of the invention are prepared using silicon containing pre-polymers and are prepared by a process that allows crosslinking at lowered gel temperatures by means of a metal-ion-free onium or nucleophile catalyst.

Abstract: A membrane is provided, which may include a microporous base membrane; and a cross-linkable coating disposed on a surface of the membrane. The coating may include polyvinyl nucleophilic polymer and a urethane or a blocked isocyanate. The coating may be cross-linked. Also provided is a method of making the membrane.

Abstract: A process for the production of membranes which contain at least one solid layer on one side of a porous substrate by treating, with a synthesis solution forming the solid layer, that side of the substrate which is to be coated is described, wherein, in the production of the solid layer on the porous substrate, the space which, viewed from the substrate, is behind that side of the porous substrate which is not to be coated is filled with an inert fluid, the pressure and/or the temperature of the fluid being chosen so that contact of the synthesis solution with that side of the porous substrate which is not to be coated is substantially prevented.

Abstract: A membrane composition comprising an inorganic substrate which has a coating of an associating polymer. The membrane composition includes an inorganic substrate selected from the group consisting of a porous silica hollow tube, an alumina hollow tube and a ceramic monolith.

Abstract: Describes a cathode assembly for electrolytic cells, e.g., chlor-alkali electrolytic cells, comprising a foraminous cathode substrate, a deposited erodible mat comprising synthetic (man-made) fibers, e.g., polyamide (nylon) fibers, on the foraminous surface of said cathode substrate, and a synthetic diaphragm on said erodible mat. Also described is a method for preparing the cathode assembly that comprises depositing a mat of erodible synthetic fibers on the active surface of the foraminous cathode, e.g., by drawing an aqueous slurry of the erodible synthetic fibers through the foraminous cathode, and subsequently forming, e.g., by vacuum deposition, a synthetic diaphragm on the erodible mat.

Abstract: The present invention relates to adsorption membranes comprising microporous polymer membranes in which adsorbent particles are incorporated. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a method of producing the inventive adsorption membranes as well as devices which comprise the inventive adsorption membranes.

Abstract: An ink jet recording medium including an ink receiving layer disposed on at least one side of a support, wherein the ink receiving layer is formed by applying an ink receiving layer coating solution. The ink receiving layer coating solution includes a water-soluble resin and a fine silica dispersion that has been prepared by finely dispersing a preliminary silica dispersion. The preliminary silica dispersion includes fumed silica, a cationic polymer having an I/O value of 2.4 or less, and alcohol.