SELECTIVE WATER VAPOUR TRANSPORT MEMBRANES COMPRISING A NANOFIBROUS LAYER AND METHODS FOR MAKING THE SAME

摘要

A water vapour transport membrane comprises a nanofibrous layer disposed on a macroporous support layer, the nanofibrous layer coated with a water permeable polymer. A method for making a water vapour transport membrane comprises forming a nanofibrous layer on a macroporous support layer and applying a water permeable polymer to the nanofibrous layer. The water permeable polymer can be applied for so that the nanofibrous layer is substantially or partially filled with the water permeable polymer, or so that the coating forms a substantially continuous layer on one surface of the nanofibrous layer. In some embodiments of the method, the nanofibrous layer is formed by electro-spinning at least one polymer on at least one side of the porous support layer. In some embodiments, the support layer is formable and the method further comprises forming a three-dimensional structure from the water vapour transport membrane, for example, by compression molding, pleating or corrugating.

主权项

1. A water vapour transport membrane comprising a water-vapour-permeable layer disposed on a porous support layer, wherein the water-vapour-permeable layer comprises a layer of nanofibres substantially filled with a water-vapour-permeable polymer, the polymer is in contact with a surface of the porous support layer and binds the layer of nanofibres to the surface of the porous support layer, and the membrane is substantially impermeable to air wherein the water-vapour-permeable layer has a thickness less than a thickness of the support layer.