Porous Polyethersulfone Film with Macrovoids and Dimensional Stability

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional techniques have not successfully produced a porous polyethersulfone film with macrovoids while maintaining excellent dimensional stability.

Innovation Solution

A three-layer structured porous polyethersulfone film is created, comprising surface layers and a macrovoid layer, where the surface layers have fine pores and the macrovoid layer has a honeycomb structure, enabling high porosity, material permeability, and compressive stress resistance, achieved through a method involving flow-casting and heat treatment of a polyethersulfone solution with a specific solvent composition.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Shape

If conventional techniques are used to produce porous polyethersulfone film, then dimensional stability is maintained, but macrovoids cannot be formed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemacrovoid structureVSAvoiddimensional stability
Core Design Contradiction:
ShapeVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the chemical composition parameters of the polyethersulfone polymer by introducing specific substituents (trifluoromethyl groups at positions 2 and 6 of the phenylene ring) that alter the polymer's physical properties. This enables the formation of macrovoids during phase inversion while maintaining dimensional stability, resolving the contradiction between achieving macrovoid structure and maintaining reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The invention creates a composite polymer structure by combining polyethersulfone backbone with specific aromatic substituents (diphenyl and trifluoromethyl groups). This composite molecular structure provides both the flexibility needed for macrovoid formation and the structural integrity for dimensional stability, simultaneously achieving both previously conflicting properties.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Quantity of substance

If porosity is increased to improve material permeability, then compressive strength decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvematerial permeabilityVSAvoidcompressive strength
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The invention creates a heterogeneous pore structure with macrovoids (large voids) distributed within the film matrix. This local variation in pore size and distribution allows high material permeability through the macrovoid channels while the surrounding polymer matrix maintains structural integrity and compressive strength, resolving the contradiction between permeability and strength.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

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 film exhibits enhanced material permeability, increased capacity for substance filling, and high dimensional stability, making it suitable for applications such as liquid filtering membranes, gas separation membranes, insulating materials, and cell culture sheets.

Implementation Method 1

a porous polyethersulfone film having a three-layer structure composed of surface layers (a) and (b), and a macrovoid layer

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPhase separation: Phase Change

Implementation Method 2

the macrovoid layer has a honeycomb structure, enabling high porosity, material permeability, and compressive stress resistance

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectStructural support:

Implementation Method 3

enhanced material permeability, increased capacity for substance filling

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPermeation: Permeation

Data Source

PatentEP3489289B1Porous polyether sulfone film and production method therefor
Publication Date: 2021.07.14 UBE CORPORATION
  • EP3489289B1 patent drawingFigure 1(A)~1(C)
  • EP3489289B1 patent drawingFigure 2(A)~2(C)
  • EP3489289B1 patent drawing

AI summary

Provided are: a porous polyether sulfone film having macrovoids and having excellent dimensional stability; and a production method therefor. Provided is a porous polyether sulfone film having a surface layer (a), a surface layer (b), and a macrovoid layer interposed between the surface layer (a) and the surface layer (b). The macrovoid layer has a partition wall joined to the surface layers (a) and (b) and a plurality of macrovoids surrounded by the partition wall and the surface layers (a) and (b). The surface layer (a) and the surface layer (b) have pores connected to the macrovoids.