Asymmetric membranes of polytetrafluoroethylene and process for making them

摘要

This invention relates to methods for preparing membranes of polyfluoroethylene (PTFE) and to the asymmetric membranes fabricated thereby. Such membranes are useful as separation and ultrafiltration membranes. The membranes are produced as a single layer. Method steps including contacting a substrate with a solution of PTFE in a perfluorinated cycloalkane solvent at a high temperature to cause a film of such solution to be coated on the substrate, removing the coated substrate from the solution and rapidly cooling it by contact with a second solvent, removing the coated substrate from the second solvent, drying the film, and optionally separating film from substrate.