Belarus research institute developed a method to produce porous material from polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) GRIFTEX. The material can be made in form of wool or felt. The advantages of high surface hydrophobicity, chemical and temperature resistance come from PTFE. Typical applications of material «Грифтекс» are filtration of toxic chemicals and medicine. The institute seeks cooperation under manufacturing agreement, commercial agreement with technical assistance, or joint venture agreement.

Belarus research institute offers porous polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) material GRIFTEX and equipment for its production.

Polytetrafluoroethylene has outstanding set of properties (high melting temperature, low coefficient of friction, chemical inertness etc.) which results in its wide usage. But because of those properties, the processing of PTFE can be difficult and expensive and also leaves small choice of methods to produce PTFE fibers and porous materials from it.

In the developed method the solid PTFE is evaporated by a laser beam and condensed on cold surface as fibres. At present, the porous material produced in form of wool or felt. The wool consists of fibres 5..15 micrometers mean diameter and up to 10 mm length. The felt consists of shorter (0,2..2 mm) fibres that are fused at contact points.

Characteristics of PTFE-felt:
* thickness: from 1 mm and up to ca. 20 mm
* density: 300..400 kg/m3
* mean pore size: 10..20 µm
* open porosity: 80..90%
* permeability factor: (0,5..5)*10e-12 m2
* high surface hydrophobicity
* chemical and thermal resistance is that of PTFE
* tensile strength (non-reinforced): 0,02..0,03 MPa
* elongation 15..20%

The method allows to form porous material on technological substrates, from which it is subsequently removed, and also directly on products, incl. surfaces of complex shape.

The material GRIFTEX is used for fine filtration of any gases or liquids, incl. aggressive chemicals, over a wide range of temperatures (-150..+250 С). Compared to filters from metallic foams or porous metals, porous PTFE is more efficient in catching oil-water aerosols and have several orders of magnitude more contaminant capacity.
Several trials were made to use porous PTFE in surgery as graft material for soft tissue defects.
The porous PTFE can be used as a component of polymer composites to improve durability and hydrophobic properties.

The institute is looking for industrial partners interested in:
* production of porous material GRIFTEX using the available equipment under manufacturing agreement (the institute is ready to produce small batches of material GRIFTEX on its own equipment according to the customer requirements),
* buying the equipment under a commercial agreement with technical assistance (the institute offers equipment for the production of porous material GRIFTEX according to specification, documentation, technical consultancy, assistance with installation, maintenance, and repair),
* joint production of material GRIFTEX or equipment for the production of porous material GRIFTEX under joint venture agreement (the institute's contribution can be know-how, documentation, technical consultancy, assistance with installation, maintenance and repair, participation in the enterprise management).

The porous PTFE material GRIFTEX is extremely stable to any aggressive substances in liquid, gas, or vapor state over a wide range of temperatures (-150 up to +250 C).

The difference between porous PTFE GRIFTEX and porous polystyrene or polyolefin-based materials is the high surface hydrophobicity.

Patents of the Russian Federation №№ 1459190, 1461052, 1674587.

The Institute is engaged in fundamental and applied research in the following areas:
* interfacial phenomenons in polymer systems, developing composite materials based on organic and inorganic polymers
* physics, chemistry and mechanics of surface, analysis of contact interactions, friction, wear and lubrication in mechanical and biological systems.

The institute has long-term cooperative links with more than a hundred industrial enterprises and scientific centres in Belarus. Several brands of polymer composite materials have been created for the leading fields of the economy. Special equipment has been exported to Russia, USA, Switzerland, France, and South Korea.

Industrial partners for:
* production of porous material GRIFTEX from polytetrafluoroethylene by laser ablation using the available equipment under manufacturing agreement
* buying the equipment under a commercial agreement with technical assistance
* production of material GRIFTEX or equipment for the production of porous material GRIFTEX under joint venture agreement. Tasks to be performed: financing of joint venture activities, participation in enterprise management.