FILTER MEDIA INCLUDING FIBERS COMPRISING POLYVINYLIDENE FLUORIDE AND/OR A COPOLYMER THEREOF, AND RELATED METHODS
Filter media including fibers comprising polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) and/or a copolymer thereof, are generally described.
1 . A filter media, comprising:
a fine fiber layer comprising a plurality of fine fibers;
wherein the fine fibers comprise polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) and/or a copolymer thereof;
wherein the fine fibers have an average fiber diameter of less than or equal to 150 nanometers; and
wherein the fine fiber layer has a surface nodule density of less than or equal to 4 nodules/100 square microns (um 2 ).
2 . A filter media, comprising:
a fine fiber layer comprising a plurality of fine fibers;
wherein the fine fibers comprise polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) and/or a copolymer thereof;
wherein the fine fibers have an average fiber diameter of less than or equal to 150 nanometers; and
wherein the fine fiber layer has a void volume of greater than or equal to 70%.
3 . A filter media, comprising:
a fine fiber layer comprising a plurality of fine fibers;
wherein the fine fibers comprise polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) and/or a copolymer thereof;
wherein the fine fibers have an average fiber diameter of less than or equal to 150 nanometers; and
wherein the ratio of a theoretical surface area of the fine fiber layer to the actual surface area of the fine fiber layer is greater than or equal to 1 and less than or equal to 15.
4 - 6 . (canceled)
7 . The filter media of claim 1 , wherein the polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) and/or a copolymer thereof comprises a PVDF copolymer.
8 . The filter media of claim 1 , wherein the polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) and/or a copolymer thereof comprises PVDF-hexafluoropropylene, PVDF-tetrafluoroethylene, PVDF-chlorotrifluoroethylene, and/or PVDF-hexafluoropropylene-tetrafluoroethylene.
9 . (canceled)
10 . The filter media of claim 1 , wherein the fine fibers have an average fiber diameter of greater than or equal to 10 nm and less than or equal to 150 nm.
11 . The filter media of claim 1 , wherein greater than or equal to 5% and less than or equal to 100% of the fine fibers have a diameter of less than or equal to 100 nm.
12 . The filter media of claim 1 , wherein greater than or equal to 5% of the fine fibers have a diameter less than or equal to 75 nm.
13 . The filter media of claim 1 , wherein the fine fibers are electro spun fibers.
14 - 15 . (canceled)
16 . The filter media of claim 1 , wherein the nodules have a diameter of at least 40% bigger than the average fiber diameter.
17 . (canceled)
18 . The filter media of claim 1 , wherein the nodules have a diameter of greater than or equal to 300 nm.
19 - 20 . (canceled)
21 . The filter media of claim 1 , wherein the fine fiber layer has a void volume of greater than or equal to 70%.
22 . (canceled)
23 . The filter media of claim 1 , wherein the ratio of a theoretical surface area of the fine fiber layer to the actual surface area of the fine fiber layer is greater than or equal to 1 and less than or equal to 15.
24 . (canceled)
25 . The filter media of claim 1 , wherein the fine fiber layer has a maximum pore size of greater than or equal to 0.1 microns and less than or equal to 5 microns.
26 . (canceled)
27 . The filter media of claim 1 , wherein the fine fiber layer has a mean flow pore size of greater than or equal to 0.001 microns and less than or equal to 5 microns.
28 . (canceled)
29 . The filter media of claim 1 , wherein the fine fiber layer has a ratio of maximum pore size to mean flow pore size of greater than or equal to 1 and less than or equal to 5.
30 - 37 . (canceled)
38 . The filter media of claim 1 , wherein the filter media has an air permeability of greater than or equal to 0.2 CFM and less than or equal to 1000 CFM.
39 - 40 . (canceled)
41 . The filter media of claim 1 , wherein the filter media has a pressure drop of greater than or equal to 0.05 kPA and less than or equal to 100 kPa.
42 - 46 . (canceled)
47 . The filter media of claim 1 , wherein the filter media has a dust holding capacity of greater than or equal to 1 gsm and less than or equal to 500 gsm.
48 . The filter media of claim 1 , wherein the filter media further comprises a supplemental layer, and wherein the supplemental layer comprises meltblown fibers, synthetic fibers, and/or cellulose fibers.
49 - 57 . (canceled)