Membranes are described that may include aligned carbon nanotubes coated with an inorganic support layer and a polymeric matrix. Methods of membrane fabrication are described that may include coating an aligned carbon nanotube array with an inorganic support layer followed by infiltration with a polymeric solvent or solution. The support carbon nanotube membrane may have improved performance for separations such as desalination, drug delivery, or pharmaceuticals.

Membranes are described that may include aligned carbon nanotubes coated with an inorganic support layer and a polymeric matrix. Methods of membrane fabrication are described that may include coating an aligned carbon nanotube array with an inorganic support layer followed by infiltration with a polymeric solvent or solution. The support carbon nanotube membrane may have improved performance for separations such as desalination, drug delivery, or pharmaceuticals.

A polyimide separation membrane is comprised of a polyimide, a halogen compound (e.g., halogenated aromatic epoxide) that is soluble in the polyimide and a hydrocarbon having 2 to 5 carbons (e.g., ethane, ethylene, propane or propylene). The gas separation membrane has improved selectivity for small gas molecules such as hydrogen compared to polyimide membrane not containing the halogen compound or hydrocarbon. The polyimide separation membrane may be made by shaping a dope solution comprised of a polyimide, a halogen containing compound that is soluble in the polyimide, removing the solvent and then exposing the untreated polyimide membrane to a treating atmosphere comprising a hydrocarbon having 2 to 5 carbons for a sufficient time to form the polyimide membrane.

An absorbent article containing a nonwoven web that includes a plurality of polyolefin fibers is provided. The polyolefin fibers are formed by a thermoplastic composition containing a continuous phase that includes a polyolefin matrix polymer and nanoinclusion additive is provided. The nanoinclusion additive is dispersed within the continuous phase as discrete nano-scale phase domains. When drawn, the nano-scale phase domains are able to interact with the matrix in a unique manner to create a network of nanopores.

Tetrablock copolymers of formula ABAC are provided that can be used to form porous articles such as porous hollow fibers and porous membranes. Each A block is formed from a vinyl aromatic monomer, the B block is formed from a conjugated diene monomer, and the C block is formed from at least two different oxirane (i.e., epoxy) compounds. The tetrablock copolymers can advantageously be prepared without the use of functional initiators and/or difunctional initiators. The tetrablock copolymers are well suited for solvent induced phase separation (SIPS) processing to prepare porous articles. Membranes formed from the tetrablock copolymers can be used for water treatment and biopharmaceutical purification and/or separation processes.

Tetrablock copolymers of formula ABAC are provided that can be used to form porous articles such as porous hollow fibers and porous membranes. Each A block is formed from a vinyl aromatic monomer, the B block is formed from a conjugated diene monomer, and the C block is formed from at least two different oxirane (i.e., epoxy) compounds. The tetrablock copolymers can advantageously be prepared without the use of functional initiators and/or difunctional initiators. The tetrablock copolymers are well suited for solvent induced phase separation (SIPS) processing to prepare porous articles. Membranes formed from the tetrablock copolymers can be used for water treatment and biopharmaceutical purification and/or separation processes.

Micro- and nanofilters with precision pore sizes and pore layout have applications in many fields including capturing circulating tumor cells and fetal cells in blood, water treatment, pathogen detection in water, etc. Methods to fabricate micro- and nanofilters not using track etching or reactive ion etching are provided, allowing easy fabrication of single layer or stack of films simultaneously, and/or stack of films on rolls. Microfilter can be made using one or more layers of material. Invention enables mass production of microfilters with lithographic quality at low cost. Isolation, enumeration and characterization of circulating tumor cells using microfilters provides (i) guides to cancer treatment selection and personalize dosage, (ii) low cost monitoring for treatment response, disease progression and recurrence, (iii) assessment of pharmacodynamic effects, (iv) information on mechanisms of resistance to therapy, and (v) cancer staging. Microfabrication methods are also applicable to fabrication of any free standing patterned polymeric films.

Micro- and nanofilters with precision pore sizes and pore layout have applications in many fields including capturing circulating tumor cells and fetal cells in blood, water treatment, pathogen detection in water, etc. Methods to fabricate micro- and nanofilters not using track etching or reactive ion etching are provided, allowing easy fabrication of single layer or stack of films simultaneously, and/or stack of films on rolls. Microfilter can be made using one or more layers of material. Invention enables mass production of microfilters with lithographic quality at low cost. Isolation, enumeration and characterization of circulating tumor cells using microfilters provides (i) guides to cancer treatment selection and personalize dosage, (ii) low cost monitoring for treatment response, disease progression and recurrence, (iii) assessment of pharmacodynamic effects, (iv) information on mechanisms of resistance to therapy, and (v) cancer staging. Microfabrication methods are also applicable to fabrication of any free standing patterned polymeric films.

Disclosed here are semi-permeable cross-linked polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) based membranes that can be used as supports for water purification membranes, and methods for their production. The cross-linked PVA-based membranes are cross-linked with the reaction product of poly-epoxides and OH groups from the PVA polymers. Methods according to the present disclosure include crosslinking dissolved PVA and dissolved poly-epoxides, casting the cross-linked PVA, and coagulating the cast polymer in a phase immersion precipitation process.

A membrane filter including a thin film having a nanometer order thickness as a base, which is easy to increase in size, and which has sufficient strength. The membrane filter is formed by laminating a thin film having a thickness of 1 to 1,000 nm with a support film which is a porous film having a thickness of 1 to 1,000 ?m, which is made of a photosensitive composition or a cured product of the photosensitive composition, and has a plurality of hole portions penetrating in the thickness direction.