Separation method and apparatus incorporating materials having a negative poisson ratio

• Main Authors: EVANS KENNETH E, ALDERSON ANDREW, RASBURN JOHN
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 17.08.2006
• Subjects: CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOIDCHEMISTRY; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; LAYERED PRODUCTS; LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT ORNON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL; SEPARATION; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS; THEIR RELEVANT APPARATUS; TRANSPORTING

A method of separating at least part of one or more components from a mixture of components includes exposing the mixture to a porous barrier, the barrier being formed of a material structure having, or behaving in the manner associated with, a negative Poisson ratio. Through the use of such materials, improved reparations, improved de-fouling of barriers and a variety of other beneficial properties can be obtained.