IP Library › Granted Patent US 7,572,321
Granted Patent B2
US 7,572,321 · App. 11/265,755 · Granted Aug 11, 2009

Membrane, method of making same and heat exchanger furnished with said membrane

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,572,321
App. No.
11/265,755
Granted
Aug 11, 2009
Kind
B2
Abstract

A membrane 12 that exhibits superior condensation resistance regardless of the type of moisture-permeable resin, that has satisfactory adhesion between a porous film and a reinforcing member, and that can be manufactured in a simple manner. The membrane 12 is a laminated article 23 containing a porous film 20 and a reinforcing member 40 , and the reinforcing member 40 has a moisture-permeable resin layer 30 on the side of an interface 50 with the porous film 20 . To reliably form the moisture-permeable resin layer (moisture-permeable resin film) 30 , the average pore diameter of the porous film 20 is preferably 0.01 to 10 μm, and the porosity of the reinforcing member 40 is preferably 30 to 95%. According to the membrane 12 of the present invention, even if the moisture-permeable resin is water-soluble (for example, polyvinyl alcohol), condensation resistance is still satisfactory. If the difference between the critical surface tension γ c2 of the reinforcing member 40 and the critical surface tension γ c1 of the porous film 20 (γ c2 −γ c1 ) is set in advance to −5 mN/m or greater, the moisture-permeable resin layer 30 can be disposed internally at a specific location.

Claims (15)

1. A membrane which is a laminated article of a porous film adjacent to a reinforcing member, characterized in that said reinforcing member has internally disposed therein a moisture-permeable resin layer, situated on the side of interface with said porous film.

2. A membrane according to claim 1 wherein mean pore size of said porous film is 0.07 to 10 μm, and porosity of said reinforcing member is 30 to 95%.

3. A membrane according to claim 1 or 2 wherein said moisture-permeable resin is water-soluble.

4. A membrane according to claim 3 wherein said water-soluble, moisture-permeable resin is polyvinyl alcohol.

5. A membrane according to claim 1 wherein the difference (γ c2 −γ c1 ) between the critical surface tension γ c2 of said reinforcing member and the critical surface tension γ c1 of said porous film is −5 mN/m or above.

6. A membrane according to claim 1 wherein said moisture-permeable resin layer contains a flame retardant.

7. A membrane according to claim 1 wherein said moisture-permeable resin layer contains a hygroscopic agent.

8. A membrane according to claim 1 wherein said reinforcing material is composed of fibrous resin.

9. A membrane according to claim 8 wherein said fibrous resin is a nonwoven fabric.

10. A membrane according to claim 8 wherein said fibrous resin is composed of fibers of core-sheath structure, with the melting point of the resin constituting the sheath portion being lower than the melting point of the resin constituting the core portion.

11. A membrane according to claim 1 wherein said porous film is composed of polytetrafluoroethylene.

12. A membrane according to claim 1 having air permeability of 3000 sec or higher.

13. A membrane according to claim 1 having moisture permeability of 3000 g/m 2 /24 hr or higher.

14. A method for making a membrane, characterized in that after laminating a porous film and a reinforcing material, a mixed solution of moisture-permeable resin and solvent is applied from said reinforcing material side, and said solvent is then evaporated out.

15. A heat exchanger characterized in that the heat exchange membrane is composed of a membrane according to any one of claims 1 to 13 .