Patent ID: 8196756
Filing Date: 2012-06-12
Classification: B01D,B05D,B82Y,Y02A,Y10S

Abstract:
1. A process for the fabrication of a membrane of selective permeability, said process comprises: (a) coating a substrate with a film of polymer solution comprising a polymer dissolved in a solvent; (b) forming over said film of polymer solution a nanotube dispersion layer comprising nanotubes dispersed in a liquid carrier that is partially miscible with, but forms a separate liquid phase from, said polymer solution; (c) evaporating said liquid carrier from said nanotube dispersion layer to leave a residual nanotube dispersion in said polymer solution and nanotubes protruding from said nanotube dispersion; and (d) contacting said residual nanotube dispersion layer with a liquid that is at least partially miscible with said solvent but in which said polymer is substantially insoluble, to cause precipitation of said polymer to form an asymmetric membrane terminating on one side in a skin that forms a substantially impermeable barrier around said nanotubes with said nanotubes protruding through said skin.