Electron Beam Crosslinked Membrane Modification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for modifying microporous membranes using electron beam radiation often involve toxic monomers and initiators, leading to the issue of extractable toxic components and complex, costly processes, which are not environmentally friendly.
Innovation Solution
A method involving impregnating a microporous starting membrane with a solvent and polymer solution, followed by electron beam radiation to crosslink the polymer on the membrane surface, ensuring a durable modification without toxic components and using environmentally friendly materials and processes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If electron beam radiation is used to crosslink polymer on membrane surface, then durability of modification is improved, but toxic monomers and initiators must be used which create harmful extractable components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes toxic monomers and initiators from the electron beam radiation process by using pre-polymerized polymers with reactive functional groups instead, thereby extracting the harmful components while maintaining the crosslinking capability through alternative chemistry
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs water-soluble polymers that can be easily rinsed away after serving their crosslinking function, replacing the need for persistent toxic monomers and initiators with temporary, benign processing aids that are disposed of through simple washing
2Reliability
If toxic monomers and initiators are used for polymerization, then permanent modification is achieved, but complex and costly rinsing processes are required to remove extractables
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses water-soluble polymers that serve as temporary crosslinking agents during electron beam irradiation and then can be completely removed by simple water rinsing, eliminating the need for complex multi-stage cleaning processes required when using toxic monomers and initiators
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the chemical parameters of the crosslinking system by using pre-polymerized polymers with reactive groups instead of monomers, which fundamentally alters the solubility and removability characteristics, allowing easy water-based cleanup while maintaining permanent modification
3Stability of the object's composition
If conventional polymerization methods are used with monomers, then crosslinked polymer structure is formed, but environmental and health concerns arise from toxicity and carcinogenicity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the toxic and carcinogenic monomers and initiators from the crosslinking process, replacing them with pre-polymerized polymers that can be safely handled and that still form the desired crosslinked network structure through electron beam-induced reactions
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces water-soluble polymers with reactive functional groups as intermediary substances that mediate the crosslinking process during electron beam irradiation, serving as safe placeholders that enable the formation of stable crosslinked structures without requiring toxic monomers
4Object-affected harmful factors
If high rinsing effort is applied to remove extractables, then permitted levels of extractables are achieved, but cost and time increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs easily removable water-soluble polymers that can be completely washed away with simple water rinsing, achieving zero extractable levels in minutes rather than requiring prolonged, costly rinsing operations needed when using conventional toxic monomer systems
Solution Approach 2:
The patent fundamentally changes the solubility parameter of the crosslinking agents by using water-soluble polymers instead of organic-soluble monomers, which transforms the rinsing requirement from a complex, time-intensive organic solvent process to a simple, rapid water-based process
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This method achieves a durable membrane modification without extractable toxins, reducing permeability by no more than 10% and ensuring environmental friendliness by eliminating the use of toxic substances, with adjustable permeability and surface properties.
Implementation Method 1
irradiating the impregnated membrane with electron beam radiation to provide a microporous membrane on whose surface the electron beam radiation crosslinked polymer is fixed
Implementation Method 2
electron beam radiation crosslinked polymer
Data Source
AI summary
A method for producing a microporous membrane includes providing a microporous starting membrane having outer surfaces and pores with inner surfaces extending between the outer surfaces of the membrane and having a microporous starting membrane permeability. The method impregnates the membrane with an impregnating solution consisting essentially of a solvent and a polymer. The polymer is an organic substance with an average molecular weight of at least 500 g/mol and may be selected from the group consisting of poly(2-ethyloxazoline), polyvinylpyrrolidone-vinyl acetate (PVP-VA) and mixtures thereof. The method then includes irradiating the impregnated membrane with electron beam radiation to provide a crosslinked reaction product constituting a three-dimensional network formed of the microporous starting membrane and the polymer without any decomposition of the microporous starting membrane. The microporous starting membrane permeability is not reduced by more than 10% by fixing the electron beam radiation crosslinked polymer thereto.