Patent ID: 8628843
Filing Date: 2014-01-14
Classification: B01D,B29C,B29K,B29L,B65D,C08J,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A method of making a sintered porous membrane comprising a two-step method comprising: a first step comprising providing a PTFE component comprising a plurality of PTFE particles; providing a carbonaceous component; mixing the PTFE component and the carbonaceous component to form a mixture; heating the mixture to a temperature of about the microcrystalline melting point of the PTFE component to form a thermally treated material wherein the individual PTFE particles of the PTFE component are softened and are not completely fused together and wherein the carbonaceous component is dispersed throughout the PTFE component; and a second step comprising breaking the thermally treated material into composite particles comprising a PTFE component and a carbonaceous component dispersed throughout the PTFE component; providing a plurality of the composite particles; disposing the plurality of the composite particles in a mold; applying a compressive force to the composite particles; relieving the compressive force on the composite particles; heating the composite particles to a temperature above the microcrystalline melting point of the PTFE component to form a porous composite material; cooling the porous composite material; removing the porous composite material from the mold, and skiving the porous composite material to make a membrane.