Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company

3m Innovative Properties Company

Scott D Thomas

Richard M Flynn

Philip D Radovanovic

Todd R Mathisen

Mario Alberto Perez

Microporous material comprising a polypropylene polymer having at least 20 percent crystallinity; and a compatible, amorphous, glassy polymer, wherein said polymers are miscible in a compound when heated above the melting temperature of the polypropylene polymer and wherein a polypropylene polymer phase separates from the compound when cooled below the crystallization temperature of the polypropylene polymer. Microporous material is made by a thermally induced phase separation process using a compound such as mineral oil to form one phase containing both polymers. The pores of the microporous material resist collapse during processing. Membranes made of this material are useful as battery separators having a good combination of strength, porosity, and ionic resistance when imbibed with an electrolyte.

Microporous material resistant to capillary collapse

Briefly, in one aspect, the present invention provides puncture resistant microporous materials made of melt-processable semi-crystalline thermoplastic polymers. The microporous materials can be produced at relatively high rates and at low cost. Films and multilayer constructions made of the microporous materials and methods of making microporous materials also are provided.

Puncture-resistant polyolefin membranes

A process for controlling or extinguishing fires comprises introducing to a fire or flame (e.g., by streaming or by flooding) a non-flammable extinguishment composition comprising at least one mono- or dialkoxy-substituted perfluoroalkane, perfluorocycloalkane, perfluorocycloalkyl-containing perfluoroalkane, or perfluorocycloalkylene-containing perfluoroalkane compound, the compound optionally containing additional catenary heteroatoms in its perfluorinated portion and preferably having a boiling point in the range of from about 0.degree. C. to about 150.degree. C. The compounds exhibit good extinguishment capabilities while being environmentally acceptable.

Fire extinguishing process and composition

A nonflammable composition that is useful for applying silicone lubricants to the surfaces of medical articles is described. The composition includes a highly fluorinated organic compound, a fluorine-free solvent, and a silicone lubricant.

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Woodbury, MN, United States of America

Scott D Thomas