The goal of this project was to produce a range of low-cost membranes that could be used as water transfer membranes in heating, air-conditioning and ventilation applications (HVAC). The membranes were to be simple to produce using an entirely water-based fabrication process. These goals were accomplished using a gel-filled membrane construct in which the incorporated gel is comprised of two or more interpenetrating gel networks. This gel phase has been anchored into a range of different support materials including paper, non-woven fabrics, and a variety of microporous membranes. This paper describes the formation and optimization of these membranes. Their performance characteristics will be discussed together with their use in HVAC applications. The fabrication process has been scaled to a continuous two-step process. While these membranes were developed for HVAC applications they have other potential uses. License opportunities exist. The finished membrane could be supplied in large quantities in flat sheet form.
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