Disclosed are compositions that may be useful for forming synthetic membranes, methods of forming membranes therefrom, and membranes. In an embodiment, a membrane comprises a free hydrophilic polymer comprising a polyoxazoline, and a polyurethane, the polyurethane comprising a backbone comprising the reaction product of a diisocyanate, a polymeric aliphatic 5 diol, and optionally a chain extender.

The present invention offers a forward osmosis composite hollow fiber membrane module having hollow fiber bundles comprising a plurality of hollow fibers, the hollow fibers having a separation layer composed of a macromolecular polymer thin film provided on the inner surface of a microporous hollow fiber supporting membrane, wherein the membrane area of the hollow fiber bundle is at least 1 m.sup.2, and a variation coefficient for the average thickness of the separation layer in the radial direction and the lengthwise direction of the hollow fiber bundles, as calculated by a method of measuring the mass of the separation layer portion in a scanning electron microscope image of a cross section of the separation layer in the thickness direction, is 0% to 60%.

The present invention offers a forward osmosis composite hollow fiber membrane module having hollow fiber bundles comprising a plurality of hollow fibers, the hollow fibers having a separation layer composed of a macromolecular polymer thin film provided on the inner surface of a microporous hollow fiber supporting membrane, wherein the membrane area of the hollow fiber bundle is at least 1 m.sup.2, and a variation coefficient for the average thickness of the separation layer in the radial direction and the lengthwise direction of the hollow fiber bundles, as calculated by a method of measuring the mass of the separation layer portion in a scanning electron microscope image of a cross section of the separation layer in the thickness direction, is 0% to 60%.

An air-impermeable water vapor transport membrane comprises an active layer on a microporous polymeric substrate. The active layer comprises a polyethylene-oxide containing copolymer and a polar protic solvent in an amount of about 3% to about 100% of copolymer weight in the active layer. Molecules of the protic solvent are bonded to the copolymer. The polar protic solvent reduces temperature-dependent variability in the water-vapor permeability of the membrane.

An air-impermeable water vapor transport membrane comprises an active layer on a microporous polymeric substrate. The active layer comprises a polyethylene-oxide containing copolymer and a polar protic solvent in an amount of about 3% to about 100% of copolymer weight in the active layer. Molecules of the protic solvent are bonded to the copolymer. The polar protic solvent reduces temperature-dependent variability in the water-vapor permeability of the membrane.

A porous membrane and a method for filtering a fluid including particles with the porous membrane are disclosed. The porous membrane includes a macroporous substrate and a mesoporous silica thin film (MSTF) with perpendicular mesopore channels. The MSTF is positioned on the macroporous substrate. The method includes passing the fluid including the particles through the porous membrane.

A porous membrane and a method for filtering a fluid including particles with the porous membrane are disclosed. The porous membrane includes a macroporous substrate and a mesoporous silica thin film (MSTF) with perpendicular mesopore channels. The MSTF is positioned on the macroporous substrate. The method includes passing the fluid including the particles through the porous membrane.

A battery and a method of fabricating a porous membrane are disclosed. The battery includes an anode, a cathode, and a battery separator. The battery separator is positioned between the anode and the cathode and includes a macroporous substrate and a mesoporous silica thin film (MSTF) with perpendicular mesopore channels. The MSTF is positioned on the macroporous substrate. The method includes the following steps. A polymer film is formed on a marcoporous substrate. A MSTF with perpendicular mesopore channels is grown on the polymer film. The polymer film is removed to form the porous membrane.

A method is disclosed for forming a microporous membrane that incorporates an additive having low water solubility at the membrane's active surface from a precipitation fluid. The incorporated additive at the membrane's active surface can improve one or more of the membrane's hydrophilicity, wettability, anti-fouling behavior, blood compatibility, and stability over long periods of use or repetitive use. The microporous membrane with this modified active surface can be a hollow fiber, flat sheet, or other self-supporting shape. The microporous membranes can be used for membrane filtering or a solute and/or solvent exchange process, which involve contacting aqueous-based fluid or blood with the microporous membrane, such processes for dialysis, blood oxygenation, or blood separation filtering, or other processes.

Fibrous materials are provided that comprise a cross-linkable urethane-based polymer (CUP) and an oligomeric or macromonomeric urethane-based cross-linker. The fibrous materials may be used in hydrogels, in filtration devices, in affinity membranes, in (protective) clothing, in drug delivery systems, and in tissue scaffolds, for example. The fibrous materials are useable also in human and/or veterinary medicine, such as in skin care and/or wound care.