UHMWPE Composite Membrane for Recyclable Chemical-Resistant Pumps
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing composite membranes made of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) for chemically aggressive and toxic media applications have poor recyclability and generate harmful by-products during disposal, posing environmental and recycling challenges.
Innovation Solution
Replace PTFE with ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) for the membrane body, particularly on the media-facing surface, and optionally combine it with a base layer of elastomers and reinforcing materials, ensuring high chemical resistance and recyclability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) is used for the membrane body to ensure high chemical resistance, then chemical resistance is improved, but recyclability deteriorates and harmful by-products are generated during disposal
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameter from PTFE to UHMWPE, which fundamentally alters the recyclability characteristic while maintaining chemical resistance. This material substitution resolves the contradiction by selecting a material that inherently possesses both chemical resistance and recyclability, eliminating harmful by-products during disposal.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite material construction by combining UHMWPE with elastomeric base layers and reinforcing materials. This composite approach allows the membrane body to achieve both chemical resistance from the UHMWPE layer and improved recyclability, while the composite structure provides the necessary mechanical properties for the membrane's functional performance.
2Reliability
If polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) is used for the membrane body to ensure high chemical resistance, then chemical resistance is improved, but recyclability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameter from PTFE to UHMWPE, which fundamentally alters the recyclability characteristic while maintaining chemical resistance. This material substitution resolves the contradiction by selecting a material that inherently possesses both chemical resistance and recyclability, eliminating harmful by-products during disposal.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite material construction by combining UHMWPE with elastomeric base layers and reinforcing materials. This composite approach allows the membrane body to achieve both chemical resistance from the UHMWPE layer and improved recyclability, while the composite structure provides the necessary mechanical properties for the membrane's functional performance.
3Reliability
If a media-side PTFE coating is applied to the membrane body to ensure chemical resistance, then chemical resistance is improved, but the structural complexity increases and recyclability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameter from PTFE to UHMWPE for the media-side contact layer, eliminating the need for separate coating applications. This material substitution simplifies the structure by integrating chemical resistance directly into the membrane body material itself, reducing structural complexity while maintaining recyclability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite material construction by combining UHMWPE with elastomeric base layers and reinforcing materials. This composite approach allows the membrane body to achieve both chemical resistance from the UHMWPE layer and improved recyclability, while the composite structure provides the necessary mechanical properties for the membrane's functional performance.
4Ease of manufacture
If thermal decomposition is applied to dispose of PTFE membranes, then disposal is achieved, but hydrofluoric acid is released which damages recycling facilities
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameter from PTFE to UHMWPE, which fundamentally alters the disposal characteristics. UHMWPE does not release hydrofluoric acid during thermal decomposition, thereby eliminating the harmful effect while maintaining a manageable disposal process.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the harmful thermal decomposition process of PTFE into a beneficial disposal approach for UHMWPE. By selecting UHMWPE, the material that does not release harmful hydrofluoric acid during disposal, the patent transforms a harmful disposal process into an environmentally friendly one, eliminating the need for special handling procedures.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention describes a composite membrane with a flexible membrane body (4) comprising a circumferential edge (2), a base (4) and a flexible membrane section (5) connecting the circumferential edge (2) to the base (4), wherein the membrane body (4) is at least partially formed from an ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (PE-UHMWE).