Memtec LLC

Paul S Khoo

Clinton V Kopp

Robert J Streeton

Warren Johnson

Humphrey Drummond

Aloke Vaid

A hollow fiber membrane is produced having an outer surface, and inner surface enclosing a lumen, and a continuous network of interconnecting pores extending from the outer surface to the inner surface, wherein substantially all of the pores have an elongated dimension and a shortened dimension, the elongated dimension being oriented substantially parallel to the axis of the hollow fiber, wherein the ratio of the elongated dimension to the shortened dimension is substantially constant from the outer surface to the inner surface, and wherein the pores change shape to increase the shortened dimension in response to a high pressure differential imposed across the membrane by increasing fluid pressure within the lumen.

Hollow fiber membranes

Biological reaction processes

Extrusion of hollow membranes is improved by coextruding a coating fluid layer about the extrudate of heated polymer solution with its interior lumen forming extrudate. The coating fluid is disposed between the forming hollow fiber and a cooling fluid, and controls the rate of heat transfer to afford superior control over the structure and form of the hollow fiber produced in the invention. The coating fluid is typically the same material as the cooling fluid, and often is the same material as the solvent for the polymer in the heated polymer solution.

Hollow fibre membrane extrusion

Growing community of inventors

Northmead, Australia

Paul S Khoo