Oil-Repellent Stretched PTFE Filter Coating

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional gas-permeable filters with high crystallinity fluorine-containing polymers for oil repellency often significantly reduce gas permeability, particularly in stretched PTFE porous membranes with microporous structures.

Innovation Solution

A gas-permeable filter with a surface coated using an oil-repellent agent featuring a linear fluorine-containing hydrocarbon group, such as -R1 < C5F10CH2C4F9, which maintains gas permeability while providing sufficient oil repellency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a fluorine-containing polymer with high crystallinity (Rf group having eight or more carbon atoms) is used for oil-repellent treatment, then oil repellency is improved, but gas permeability is significantly reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoil repellencyVSAvoidgas permeability
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the chemical structure parameters of the fluorine-containing polymer by introducing branched perfluoroalkyl groups (specifically perfluoro-2-methyl-3-(heptafluoroisopropyl)propyl groups) instead of linear perfluoroalkyl groups. This structural parameter change reduces crystallinity while maintaining oil repellency through the fluorine atoms' inherent low surface energy properties, thereby resolving the contradiction between oil repellency and gas permeability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses a composite approach by combining fluorine-containing polymers with specific branched structures with stretched PTFE porous membranes. The composite material leverages the microporous structure of PTFE for gas permeability while the fluorine-containing polymer coating provides oil repellency, achieving both properties simultaneously

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Productivity

If a stretched PTFE porous membrane with microporous structure is used, then gas permeability is improved, but oil repellency is insufficient when contacting liquids with low surface tension

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegas permeabilityVSAvoidoil repellency
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary oil-repellent treatment to the stretched PTFE porous membrane before use. By coating the membrane surface with fluorine-containing polymers having branched perfluoroalkyl groups, the membrane is pre-equipped with oil repellency properties, ensuring it can resist liquids with low surface tension while maintaining its inherent gas permeability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies oil-repellent properties locally to the surface of the stretched PTFE porous membrane through coating with fluorine-containing polymers. The bulk PTFE structure maintains high gas permeability, while the surface coating provides localized oil repellency, resolving the contradiction between these two properties

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 solution effectively provides practical oil repellency to stretched PTFE porous membranes without substantially reducing gas permeability, meeting requirements for both properties.

Implementation Method 1

a linear fluorine-containing hydrocarbon group, which has a specific structure and provides practical oil repellency

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSurface tension: Surface Tension

Implementation Method 2

a porous membrane having a surface coated with an oil-repellent agent

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPermeation: Permeation

Implementation Method 3

stretched PTFE porous membranes with microporous structures

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPorosity: Porosity

Data Source

PatentEP2682178B1Oil-repellant ventilation filter
Publication Date: 2021.01.27 NITTO DENKO CORP

AI summary

A gas-permeable filter provided with oil repellency is provided. The gas-permeable filter includes a porous membrane having a surface coated with an oil-repellent agent. The oil-repellent agent includes a linear fluorine-containing hydrocarbon group represented by -R1C5F10CH2C4F9 or -R2C6F13, and the porous membrane is a stretched polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) porous membrane. Here, R1 and R2 are each independently an alkylene group having 1 to 12 carbon atoms or a phenylene group. The gas-permeable filter is provided with oil repellency without significant reduction in gas permeability.