Help with plastic choice for invention

[m1cojakle]

Hi everybody.

An invention I am working on requires a flexible, highly gas permeable plastic that can be molded into very thin layers, about 90 microns. Unfortunately, I have no idea where to start when it comes to plastic polymers. The plastic I have in mind would allow all the normal constituents of air - nitrogen, oxygen, argon, C02 etc - to very easily pass through the material. I know that one problem with plastic piping is the fact that many plastics are permeable to gases; I want to take advantage of this property and maximize the permeability, so I thought this forum may be a good place to start doing research. Any suggestions would be much appreciated.

 

[MikeHalloran]

Start by reading all 4+ million hits:

https://www.google.com/search?rlz=1...=chrome&ie=UTF-8&q=gaseous+diffusion+membrane

Then get back to us with any questions.


Mike Halloran
Pembroke Pines, FL, USA

 

[CoryPad]

I think you will find that 90 micrometers will be impossible to produce via molding. Plastic film at this thickness is produced by blown film extrusion.

 

[Demon3]

If you want flexibility and high permeability then you need elastomers (rubbers) not plastics. You can easily mold them thin, for example silicone sealant from Lowes or similar would be a good place to start. Polyurethanes and other types of elastomer would work well too.

Chris DeArmitt - PhD FRSC CChem
Plastic & Additives Webinars
Instant Downloads & Inexpensive

http://www.plastictraining.com

 

[MikeHalloran]

If you're going to start with silicone sealant, be sure to get the more expensive pure unfilled silicone, not the cheaper stuff that's (perfectly adequate for caulking but) filled with other materials.



Mike Halloran
Pembroke Pines, FL, USA

 

[ornerynorsk]

Dialysis film?

It is better to have enough ideas for some of them to be wrong, than to be always right by having no ideas at all.

 

[patprimmer]

Akzo Nobel make a product called Accurel. It was originally developed for dialysis, but the major application is water purification and desalination.

As the OP gives no quantitative requirements it is very difficult to advise. Very easy is a very vague statment. The lack of a list of what cannot pass through is a problem. I guess there are some things otherwise a woven fabric or seive would work.

Regards
Pat
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