The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Nov. 12, 2002
Filed:
Jun. 16, 2000
Alan R. Greenberg, Boulder, CO (US);
William B. Krantz, Cincinnati, OH (US);
Andrew E. Neice, Thornton, CO (US);
Paul W. Todd, Greenville, IN (US);
University Technology Corporation, Boulder, CO (US);
Abstract
An apparatus and method for controlling the pore structure of thin polymeric sheets, such as porous membranes and thin films, during solvent casting or interfacial polymerization. The invention may be used to reduce or eliminate macrovoid pore defects from solvent-cast or interfacially polymerized polymeric membranes used in a variety of separations or controlled release tasks or to create a desired pore structure in porous thin films, such as may be used in breathable garments, surgical dressings, and screen printing. A nonuniform electric field is generated at one or more locations in proximity to a liquid film in which a desired pore structure is to be formed. Due to the difference in dielectric constant between the liquid within the pores and that in the surrounding liquid, the electric field causes an attractive or repulsive force on the evolving pores.