3m Innovative Properties Company

Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company

Other

James Michael Larson

Mark Kevitt Debe

William V Balsimo

Andrew J Steinbach

Raymond J Ziegler

Matthew H Frey

William M Lamanna

Steven Joseph Hamrock

Gregory M Haugen

Phat Tan Pham

Allen L Noreen

Joseph William Frisk

Wayne Meredith Boand

Robert B Loch

Brian D Fredericksen

Klaus Hintzer

Paul E Hansen

Nicholas R Baumann

John L Roche

Armin Steurer

Gerald P Mill

Charles H Cargo

Dieter Birkhorst

Wayne M Boand

The present invention is an electrolyte membrane comprising an acid and a basic polymer, where the acid is a low-volatile acid that is fluorinated and is either oligomeric or non-polymeric, and where the basic polymer is protonated by the acid and is stable to hydrolysis.

Fuel cell electrolyte membrane with basic polymer

An electrolyte membrane is formed by an acidic polymer and a low-volatility acid that is fluorinated, substantially free of basic groups, and is either oligomeric or non-polymeric.

Fuel cell electrolyte membrane with acidic polymer

Amine oxide coating compositions

Membrane electrode assemblies are described that include an ion conductive membrane a catalyst adjacent to the major surfaces of the ion conductive membrane and a porous particle filled polymer membrane adjacent to the ion conductive membrane. The catalyst can be disposed on the major surfaces of the ion conductive membrane. Preferably, the catalyst is disposed in nanostructures. The polymer film serving as the electrode backing layer preferably is processed by heating the particle loaded porous film to a temperature within about 20 degrees of the melting point of the polymer to decrease the Gurley value and the electrical resistivity. The MEAs can be produced in a continuous roll process. The MEAs can be used to produce fuel cells, electrolyzers and electrochemical reactors.

Membrane electrode assemblies

A method is provided for making a gas diffusion layer for an electrochemical cell comprising the steps of: a) combining carbon particles and one or more surfactants in a typically aqueous vehicle to make a preliminary composition, typically by high shear mixing; b) adding one or more highly fluorinated polymers to said preliminary composition by low shear mixing to make a coating composition; and c) applying the coating composition to an electrically conductive porous substrate, typically by a low shear coating method.

Method of making gas diffusion layers for electrochemical cells

A portable device for coupling hearing aids to a telephone, whereby the hearing aid/telephone user simultaneously receives a signal transmitted from the device to the user's hearing aid(s) while receiving an audio signal via the telephone handset. The device may inductively couple the telephone to the user's hearing aid(s), or the device may use some other method of wireless communication to couple the telephone to the user's hearing aid(s).

Device for coupling hearing aid to telephone

Approaches are described for producing porous, polymer electrodes with good characteristics for incorporation into polymer batteries. Two preferred processes are presented. The polymer electrodes can be subjected to additional processing to increase their porosity and electrical conductivity. The polymer electrodes preferably are incorporated into a polymer battery where the components are laminated together.

Batteries with porous components

Sorptive articles

A low profile heat-sealable adsorbent filter for ostomy appliances is provided. The filter comprises a heat-sealable microporous film layer, a filter layer of melt-blown microfibers loaded with adsorbent particles and a cover layer. The microporous film layer provides for rapid release of flatus or other gas in having a Gurley value of less than about 100 seconds/50 cc. The melt-blown microfiber filter web has an estimated service life of about 3 days or more with a web basis weight of about 700 grams/m.sup.2 or less. The low profile filter can be sealed to the outside face of an ostomy appliance with a perimeter seal to provide a filter with no liquid or gas by-pass and no liquid by-pass through the filter.

Low profile ostomy filter

Growing community of inventors

Saint Paul, MN, United States of America

James Michael Larson