Plasma Polymerized Fluorocarbon Coating for Filtration Membranes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Reusable filtration membranes face pore size integrity issues due to erosion from harsh caustic washing procedures, which can lead to compromised filtering reliability and safety risks.
Innovation Solution
A polymerised fluorocarbon coating is deposited using plasma polymerisation to maintain pore size consistency in reusable filtration membranes, particularly those made from cheaper synthetic polymers like polyethylene, enhancing resistance to caustic washing and providing water and oil repellency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If harsh caustic washing procedures are used to sanitize filtration membranes, then sanitation effectiveness is improved, but pore size integrity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies plasma treatment as an intermediary process between manufacturing and caustic washing. This plasma-generated coating acts as a protective mediator that allows harsh sanitation to occur without direct damage to the pore structure, effectively decoupling the sanitation effectiveness from pore integrity degradation
Solution Approach 2:
The plasma treatment is performed as a preliminary action before the membrane undergoes caustic washing. By pre-conditioning the membrane surface with plasma, the pore structure is fortified in advance to resist the subsequent harsh chemical treatment, preventing pore enlargement before it can occur
2Ease of manufacture
If cheaper synthetic polymers like polyethylene are used for filtration membranes, then manufacturing cost is reduced, but resistance to caustic washing deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a composite structure by combining cheaper synthetic polymers (like polyethylene) with a plasma-generated protective coating. This composite approach allows the base membrane to be cost-effective while the plasma coating provides the enhanced caustic resistance that would otherwise require expensive base materials
Solution Approach 2:
The plasma treatment fundamentally changes the surface parameters of the synthetic polymer membrane. By modifying the surface chemistry and structure through plasma exposure, the membrane gains enhanced chemical resistance without changing the bulk material composition, allowing cheap polymers to perform like expensive resistant materials
3Ease of operation
If repeated washing procedures are applied to reusable filtration membranes, then sanitation between uses is improved, but pore size consistency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The plasma treatment provides beforehand cushioning to the membrane pore structure. This pre-application of plasma energy creates a protective buffer that absorbs and distributes the mechanical and chemical stress of repeated washing, preventing cumulative damage to pore consistency over multiple sanitation cycles
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
The treatment ensures consistent pore size retention even under caustic washing, reducing contamination risks and maintaining filtration efficiency, while allowing smaller particles to pass through while blocking larger ones.
Implementation Method 1
A polymerised fluorocarbon coating, deposited by a plasma polymerisation process, for maintaining pore size of a reusable filtration membrane subject to caustic washing
Implementation Method 2
plasmas are generated from organic molecules, which are subjected to an electrical field. When this is done in the presence of a substrate, the radicals of the compound in the plasma polymerise on the substrate
Data Source
Figure 1(a)~1(b)
Figure 1(c)
AI summary
A method for maintaining pore size of a reusable filtration membrane, said method comprising exposing said filtration membrane to a plasma comprising a hydrocarbon or fluorocarbon monomer so as to form a polymeric layer on the surface thereof. The treatment allows the filtration membrane to withstand washing procedures, in particular caustic washing. Thus reusable filtration membranes treated in this way and their use, form a further aspect of the invention.