Microporous material

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A microporous material is a material containing pores with diameters less than 2 nm. Examples of microporous materials include zeolites and metal-organic frameworks.

Porous materials are classified into several kinds by their size. According to IUPAC notation (see J. Rouquerol et al., Pure & Appl. Chem, 66 (1994) 1739-1758), microporous materials have pore diameters of less than 2 nm, mesoporous materials have pore diameters between 2 nm and 50 nm and macroporous materials have pore diameters of greater than 50 nm.

Uses in laboratories

Microporous materials are often used in laboratory environments to facilitate contaminant-free exchange of gases. Mold spores, bacteria, and other airborne contaminants will become trapped, while allowing gases to pass through the material. This allows for a sterile environment in the contained area.

Use in medicine

Albupore microporous surgical tape

Microporous adhesive tape is a surgical tape used to hold wound dressings and bandages in place, introduced in 1959 by 3M with the trade name Micropore.[1] It can be used to hold gauze padding over small wounds, usually as a temporary measure until a suitable dressing is applied.[2] The Steri-Strip was derived from Microporous surgical tape.

Other uses

Microporous tape is used by some professional extreme yo-yoers to wrap around their fingers and prevent string burn or irritation.

Rock climbers use microporous tape to wrap their hands in 'tape gloves', a means of protecting the skin from rock abrasion when jamming hands into cracks as a means of ascent (crack climbing, as opposed to face climbing - gripping holds on the face of the rock).

Microporous media used in large format printing applications normally with a pigment based ink to maintain colour balance and life expectancy of the resultant printed image.

Microporous tape is also used by some film and TV sound recordists to affix small radio microphones to actor's skin.

See also

References

  1. ↑
  2. ↑ "3M Micropore Surgical Tape Applications". Medicine. 3M Inc. Retrieved 2008-07-27. 


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