Multiple processes for preparing porous articles are described. The porous articles can be in a wide array of shapes and configurations. The methods include providing a soluble material in particulate form and forming a packed region from the material. The methods also include contacting a flowable polymeric material with the packed region such that the polymeric material is disposed in voids in the packed region. The polymeric material is then at least partially solidified. The soluble material is then removed such as by solvent washing to thereby produce desired porous articles. Also described are systems for performing the various processes.

Provided is a separator including a first later consisting of a porous polyolefin and a secondary battery utilizing the separator. The first layer exhibits a temperature-increase convergence time equal to or longer than 2.9 s.Math.m.sup.2/g and equal to or shorter than 5.7 s.Math.m.sup.2/g when the first layer is irradiated with a microwave having a frequency of 2455 MHz and an output power of 1800 W after being dipped in N-methylpyrrolidone containing 3 wt % of water. A minimum height of a ball placed over the first layer and having a diameter of 14.3 mm and a weight of 11.9 g is equal to or more than 50 cm and equal to or less than 150 cm, the minimum height causing a split in the first layer when the ball freely falls on the first layer.

Multiple processes for preparing porous articles are described. The porous articles can be in a wide array of shapes and configurations. The methods include providing a soluble material in particulate form and forming a packed region from the material. The methods also include contacting a flowable polymeric material with the packed region such that the polymeric material is disposed in voids in the packed region. The polymeric material is then at least partially solidified. The soluble material is then removed such as by solvent washing to thereby produce desired porous articles. Also described are systems for performing the various processes.

Provided is a separator capable of suppressing an increase in internal resistance and a decrease in a battery performance. A separator having a first layer consisting of a porous polyolefin and an organic antioxidant and a secondary battery including the separator are provided. The first layer has a parameter X, defined by the following equation, equal to or more than 0 and equal to or less than 20, $X=100\frac{.Math.MD\tan -TD\tan .Math.}{\frac{.Math.MD\tan +TD}{}}$

The patent provides a superabsorbent polymer hydrogel xerogel sponge and a preparation method and an application thereof. The sponge is a three-dimensional network porous sponge with chitosan as its skeleton, superabsorbent polymer as its branched chain, and macromolecule or polymer with flexible structure as its cross-linking agent. The sponge can be prepared by a one-pot method. The product has porous structure, having the characteristic of superabsorbent and maintaining integrity and certain mechanical strength after water absorption. The material can be used in the emergency hemostasis of large arteriovenous hemorrhage. The effect is better than that of the existing materials in the market. The superabsorbent hydrogel xerogel sponge provided by the invention has the advantages of simple preparation process, low cost. The product has outstanding hemostatic effect, good safety, with no heat production and no residue, and has significant medical value and industrial potential.

Compositions for forming porous materials and three-dimensional objects, including fibers, films and coatings made from the materials are provided. Also provided are methods for forming the porous objects from the compositions. The compositions include a solvent, a polymer binder that is soluble in the solvent, and solid particles that are insoluble in the solvent. The solid particles include water-soluble salt particles that can be selectively dissolved from objects made from the compositions to render the resulting structures porous.

Compositions for forming porous materials and three-dimensional objects, including fibers, films and coatings made from the materials are provided. Also provided are methods for forming the porous objects from the compositions. The compositions include a solvent, a polymer binder that is soluble in the solvent, and solid particles that are insoluble in the solvent. The solid particles include water-soluble salt particles that can be selectively dissolved from objects made from the compositions to render the resulting structures porous.

A resin microparticle production method includes a step of pulverizing resin particles having a thermoplastic resin as a forming material and having a BET specific surface area of equal to or more than 5 m.sup.2/g using an impact type pulverizer

The present invention concerns methods of administering a therapeutically effective dose of a sorbent for an inflammatory mediator to a patient where the inflammatory mediator is one or more of enzymes, cytokines, prostaglandins, eicosanoids, leukotrienes, kinins, complement, coagulation factors, endotoxins, enterotoxins, lipopolysaccharide, cell fragments, bile salts, fatty acids, phospholipids, interferon and immunomodulatory antibodies, biologics or drugs.

A method of manufacturing a flexible intrinsically antimicrobial absorbent porosic composite controlling for an effective pore size using removable pore-forming substances and physically incorporated, non-leaching antimicrobials. A flexible intrinsically antimicrobial absorbent porosic composite controlled for an effective pore size composited physically incorporated, high-surface area, non-leaching antimicrobials, optionally in which the physically incorporated non-leaching antimicrobial exposes nanopillars on its surface to enhance antimicrobial activity. A kit that enhances the effectiveness of the intrinsically antimicrobial absorbent porosic composite by storing the composite within an antimicrobial container.