Melt processable poly(vinyl alcohol) blends and poly(vinyl alcohol) based membranes

Abstract

Technologies and implementations for providing melt processable poly(vinyl alcohol) blends and poly(vinyl alcohol) based membranes are generally disclosed.

1 - 24 . (canceled) 
     
     
         25 . A method to produce a membrane, the method comprising:
 blending a first polymer, a second polymer, and a third polymer to form a polymer blend, wherein the third polymer is configured to provide post-melt processing flexibility to the polymer blend to form a melt-processable polymer blend;   extruding the melt-processable polymer blend; and   forming the membrane from the extruded melt-processable polymer blend by one or more of: film blowing and casting.   
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , further comprising:
 adding a plasticizer to facilitate the formation of the melt-processable polymer blend.   
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 25 , further comprising:
 crosslinking a portion of the first polymer to form the membrane; and   performing a post-membrane formation treatment that includes application of a chemical configured to cross-link poly(vinyl alcohol), wherein the chemical includes one or more of: boric acid, glutaraldehyde, amic acid, maleic acid, and polyacrylic acid.   
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 25 , further comprising:
 crosslinking a portion of the first polymer to form the membrane by an in situ application of reactive components configured to crosslink the first polymer.   
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 25 , further comprising:
 crosslinking a portion of the first polymer to form the membrane by an application of radiation.   
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 25 , further comprising:
 treating the membrane to produce a photoactive membrane by an application of one or more of: aminobutyraldehyde diethyl acetal and methacrylamidoacetaldehyde dimethyl acetal.   
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 25 , further comprising:
 crosslinking a portion of the first polymer; and   dissolving another portion of the first polymer in a solvent and evaporating the solvent to form the membrane.   
     
     
         32 . A melt-processable polymer blend, the melt-processable polymer blend comprising:
 a first polymer that includes poly(vinyl alcohol);   a second polymer that includes 2-glucosyloxyethyl methacrylate; and   a third polymer that includes a polyolefin polymer.   
     
     
         33 . The melt-processable polymer blend of  claim 32 , wherein the third polymer is configured to provide post-melt processing flexibility to the melt-processable polymer blend. 
     
     
         34 . The melt-processable polymer blend of  claim 32 , wherein the polyolefin polymer includes one or more of: a polyethylene polymer and a polypropylene polymer. 
     
     
         35 . The melt-processable polymer blend of  claim 32 , wherein the second polymer includes the 2-glucosyloxyethyl methacrylate incorporated in a linear acrylic polymer. 
     
     
         36 . The melt-processable polymer blend of  claim 32 , wherein the second polymer includes the 2-glucosyloxyethyl methacrylate incorporated in a core-shell type acrylic. 
     
     
         37 . The melt-processable polymer blend of  claim 32 , wherein the melt-processable polymer blend is chosen based on one or more of: a melt viscosity ratio of the melt-processable blend and a volume ratio of the melt-processable polymer blend,
 wherein the melt viscosity ratio is a first melt viscosity of the first polymer compared to a second melt viscosity of the third polymer, and   wherein the volume ratio is a first volume fraction of a first volume of the first polymer compared to a second volume fraction of a third volume of the third polymer.   
     
     
         38 . The melt-processable polymer blend of  claim 37 , wherein the melt viscosity ratio of the first melt viscosity compared to the second melt viscosity is about the same as the volume ratio of the first volume fraction compared to the second volume fraction. 
     
     
         39 . The melt-processable polymer blend of  claim 37 , wherein the volume ratio of the first volume compared to the volume ratio of the third volume is substantially equal to the melt viscosity ratio. 
     
     
         40 . The melt-processable polymer blend of  claim 32 , wherein the third polymer includes one or more of: a poly(vinylidene fluoride) polymer, a rubber, a thermoplastic elastomer, a nylon, and a polyester. 
     
     
         41 . A system to produce a membrane, the system comprising:
 a processor configured to control operations of electro-mechanical devices through one or more control logic; and   a process unit operably coupled to the processor, wherein the process unit includes one or more of: the electro-mechanical devices, an extruder, one or more dies, an injection molder, a dissolution bath, and a radiation element, and wherein the process unit is configured to:
 blend a first polymer, a second polymer, and a third polymer to form a polymer blend, wherein the third polymer is configured to provide post-melt processing flexibility to the polymer blend to form a melt-processable polymer blend; 
 extrude the melt-processable polymer blend through the extruder; 
 form the membrane from the extruded melt-processable polymer blend or by crosslinking a portion of the first polymer by one or more of: film blowing and casting; and 
 perform a post-membrane formation treatment by an application of one or more of: boric acid, glutaraldehyde, amic acid, maleic acid, and polyacrylic acid to cross link with poly(vinyl alcohol). 
   
     
     
         42 . The system of  41 , wherein the process unit is further configured to:
 dissolve a portion of the first polymer by forming pores in the membrane in the dissolution bath.   
     
     
         43 . The system of  claim 42 , wherein the pores in the membrane have diameters in a range of about 2 nm to about 50 nm. 
     
     
         44 . The system of  claim 42 , wherein the pores in the membrane have diameters in a range of about 50 nm to about 100 nm.