Inventors:
Robert Edward Jerman - Chalfont PA, US
Cornelius Brown, Jr. - Cherry Hill NJ, US
Kenneth Donald Hobbs - Dover DE, US
Carlos Ruano - Parkesburg PA, US
Charles Edward Wolanski - Bensalem PA, US
Assignee:
Markel Corporation - Plymouth Meeting PA
International Classification:
B01D 69/08
B01D 71/36
B01D 63/02
B01D 71/32
US Classification:
21050023, 21032188, 21032189, 21050036, 156296
Abstract:
A hollow fiber membrane fluid transport device and its method of manufacture are disclosed wherein the fibers are comprised of Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), and the potting materials are comprised of fluorocopolymer and or fluoroterpolymer based materials. The potting method described herein, utilizes a compressed chemically resistant fluorocopolymer and or fluoroterpolymer film, allows for ease of manufacture without destruction of the PTFE hollow fibers, with high packing densities, and without the processing complexity of pre-melting, extruding, or chemical crosslinking of any polymeric adhesives. Furthermore, the PTFE hollow fibers can be treated with a fluoropolymeric solvent solution before the chemically resistant film is applied to enhance the adhesion of the PTFE fiber to the film. PTFE hollow fibers, and its respective fluoro-co and terpolymers as potting films, impart high packing densities, superb chemical resistance and temperature resistance without membrane contamination, or low fiber pull strength, as is sometimes observed with standard potting materials such as polyurethane and epoxy.
