A biaxially stretched microporous film includes band-like polyethylene material having a film width of not less than 300 mm wherein distribution of physical properties in the film width direction and the thickness variation is less than 1.00 m and air permeability variation is not greater than 50 seconds/100 mL. The polyethylene microporous film has excellent planarity and uniformity of physical properties required when used in a large-area configuration as a separator film of a lithium ion battery for automobiles or consumer electronics.

A device for shaping at least one thread-like material (1), which is formed in a forming unit and is deposited on a transporting device (6) for the subsequent thermosetting process, wherein a retaining means (4, 14, 15, 22) and a drivable, curved depositing tube (5) are arranged one after the other in the thread transporting direction.

A device for shaping at least one thread-like material (1), which is formed in a forming unit and is deposited on a transporting device (6) for the subsequent thermosetting process, wherein a retaining means (4, 14, 15, 22) and a drivable, curved depositing tube (5) are arranged one after the other in the thread transporting direction.

A method for use in the manufacture of a filtration article includes providing a porous, fluoropolymer membrane, and applying a force to at least a portion of a first side surface of the membrane to modify the first side surface. The applied force may have a non-normal directional component relative to the first side surface. The surface modification may increase the density of the modified surface and/or reduce the porosity of the modified surface. Particle retention capabilities are thereby enhanced across the modified surface while maintaining permeability across the volume of the membrane.

A method for use in the manufacture of a filtration article includes providing a porous, fluoropolymer membrane, and applying a force to at least a portion of a first side surface of the membrane to modify the first side surface. The applied force may have a non-normal directional component relative to the first side surface. The surface modification may increase the density of the modified surface and/or reduce the porosity of the modified surface. Particle retention capabilities are thereby enhanced across the modified surface while maintaining permeability across the volume of the membrane.

Methods, systems, and devices for changing cross-sectional sizes and/or shapes of flat braided sutures and the resulting constructs are disclosed. The flat braided sutures can have a textile first cross-sectional shape that can be changed to a textile second cross-sectional shape. The systems can have a heater and a die. The flat braided sutures can be movable through the heater and the die. When the flat braided sutures are in the heater, the flat braided sutures can be heatable from a textile first temperature to a textile second temperature greater than the textile first temperature. When the flat braided sutures are at the textile second temperature, the textile first cross-sectional shape can be changeable to the textile second cross-sectional shape.