Pall Corporation

The Mearl Corporation

Ioannis P Sipsas

Peter J Degen

Joseph Y Lee

Irving B Joffee

Isaac Rothmann

Richard F Salinaro

Joseph A Gregg

Ralph B DiPalma

Gregory C Rapisarda

Brian Mullaney

Leigh A Kelderhouse

The present invention provides an ion exchange membrane having a porous polymeric support grafted with an organic moiety to which is covalently bonded at least one ion exchange group, and methods for preparing the ion exchange membrane. A method for treating a fluid containing ions wherein ions are removed by contacting the fluid with an ion exchange membrane of the present invention is also provided. In addition, the present invention provides a filtration apparatus for removing ions from a fluid, which filtration apparatus utilizes an ion exchange membrane of the present invention.

Method of removing metal ions using an ion exchange membrane

The present invention provides a rechargeable battery comprising (a) a container having a top, a bottom, and one or more side walls, and, positioned within the container, (b) an anode subject to shedding during charge/discharge cycling, (c) a cathode subject to shedding during charge/discharge cycling, (d) a separator between the anode and the cathode, (e) an electrolyte, and (f) means to inhibit the formation of a conductive pathway between the anode and the cathode sufficient to render the battery incapable of holding a charge by way of the material shed from the anode and the cathode during charge/discharge cycling. The present invention also provides a method of preparing such a rechargeable battery.

Rechargeable batteries and methods of preparing same

The present invention provides an isotropic, skinless, porous, polyvinylidene fluoride membrane having a K.sub.UF of at least about 15 psi (103 kPa), and preferably below about 50 psi (345 kPa), when tested using liquid pairs having an interfacial tension of about 4 dynes/cm (4 mN/m). The present inventive membrane preferably has a titer reduction of at least about 10.sup.8 against T.sub.1 bacteriophage, more preferably also against PR772 coliphage, and even more preferably also against PP7 bacteriophage. The present inventive membrane can have a thickness of about 20 mil (500 .mu.m) or less and even as low as about 5 mil (125 .mu.m) or less. The present invention also provides a method of preparing such a membrane by providing a casting solution comprising polyvinylidene fluoride and a solvent therefor, heating the casting solution to a uniform temperature of about 57.degree. C. to about 60.degree. C., spreading the casting solution onto a substrate to form a film, quenching the film in a quench bath so as to form a porous membrane, and washing and drying the porous membrane.

Polyvinylidene fluoride membrane and method for removing viruses from

The present invention provides a battery separator comprising a nonwoven web of first and second fibers having a mean diameter of about 15 .mu.m or less, wherein the first fibers comprise at least about 60 wt. % of a first polyolefin having a first melting temperature and no more than about 40 wt. % of a second polyolefin having a second melting temperature which is lower than the first melting temperature, the second fibers comprise a third polyolefin having a third melting temperature which is higher than the second melting temperature, the nonwoven web has two sides, one of which sides has been contacted with a heated surface such that the nonwoven web has been subjected to a temperature higher than the second melting temperature and lower than the first and third melting temperatures so as to render the contacted side more smooth than the other side, the battery separator is spontaneously wettable by an electrolyte, the battery separator has a thickness of at least about 50 .mu.m, and the battery separator has a percent rebound thickness of at least about 92% after the application of pressure up to 80 kPa. The present inventive battery separator preferably comprises two such nonwoven webs mated to each other nonsmooth side-to-nonsmooth side. The present invention also provides a method of preparing such a battery separator, as well as a battery incorporating such a battery separator.

Resilient battery separator

Antioxidant containing polyolefin compositions are provided including titanium dioxide-coated mica particles comprising a coating of silica and alumina calcined thereon to prevent yellowing of the compositions. Process for preventing the yellowing of antioxidant containing polyolefin compositions is also disclosed.

Polyolefin compositions containing coated mica particles to prevent

A heat-treated, hydrophobic, polyvinylidene difluoride membrane is provided having uniform crystallinity as evidenced by a difference in crystallinity over the membrane of less than about 10 percent. Also provided is a hydrophilic, polyvinylidene difluoride membrane prepared from a heat-treated, hydrophobic, polyvinylidene difluoride membrane which remains hydrophilic after heating to a temperature as high as about 121.degree. C.

Uniform polyvinylidene difluoride membranes

A method is provided for enhancing the characteristics of a hydrophobic polyvinylidene difluoride membrane which comprises heating the membrane to a temperature of at least 80.degree. C. but less than the temperature at which the membrane softens and deforms for a time sufficient to achieve a state such that, when the membrane is subsequently hydrophilized, the membrane has substantially uniform hydrophilic properties.

Growing community of inventors

Forest Hills, NY, United States of America

Ioannis P Sipsas