Manufacturing of etched ion-track membranes according to customer parameters.

The German scientific research centre, founded in 1969, is mainly active in the operation of accelerator facilities and research with high-energy heavy ions and is globally cooperating with approximately 400 institutes from more than 50 countries. Amongst other activities, the Material Science department is offering the manufacturing of etched ion-track membranes according to customer parameters. When materials are irradiated with high-energy ions, each projectile creates a cylindrical damage zone characterized by broken bonds and structural changes. In particular in polymers, these zones, known as ion tracks, are selectively dissolved by chemical etching and thus converted into open channels. Ion track membranes can be further processed by physical or chemical methods, e.g. such that the surface becomes hydrophobic, hydrophilic or metallically conductive. The membrane can serve as a template for synthesizing nanowires by electrolytic deposition. The membranes have a high separation performance and dispose of a narrow pore diameter distribution (less than 5%). The porosity can be adjusted by tailoring pore density and pore diameter separately Properties: • Materials: Polyethylene terephthalate, polycarbonate, polyimide, mica • Sample size:round, diameter 30 or 50 mm • Membrane thickness: Typical foils 10, 20, 30, 50 µm (max. thickness approx. 100 µm) • Pore density: adjustable between 1 and 1010 pores/cm2 • Pore size: adjustable between ~ 20 nm and a few μm • Aspect ratio: (diameter/length) up to 1:1000 • Pore shape/geometry: parallel-oriented pores, pore shapes (cylindrical, conical,...) adjustable via etching conditions (concentration, temperature, time, sequence of etching conditions, etc.), customer-specific shapes can be developed • Pore distribution: typically stochastic; production of customer-specific pore pattern is possible. The scope of application: 1. Filters, filtration systems (membranes, blood filters, water filters, masks, air monitoring, osmosis, ion exchangers ...) 2. Surface protection 3. Supporting tissue for responsive hydrogels and selective molecules 4. Nanopore-based sensors 5. Template for the synthesis of nano-micro wires and growth of nano-micro crystals 6. Template for field emitter array 7. Insulation material for one-dimensional electrical conductors. The German research centre can produce series of the etched ion-track membranes according to customer parameters. It has all needed manufacturing units and experts inhouse. Furthermore, the centre has a long and vast experience in research & development – industry projects and cooperation. The research center is interested in manufacturing agreements and is offering partnerships in projects from research and industry. Partners from the following branches/markets are of interest laboratory technology, industry (chemistry, pharmacy), medical technology, energy, filter systems, membrane technology, and others.