U.S. patent application number 11/589788 was filed with the patent office on 2008-01-03 for hollow device and manufacturing method thereof.
This patent application is currently assigned to Fuji Xerox Co., LTD.. Invention is credited to Masato Mikami.
Application Number | 20080003433 11/589788 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38877021 |
Filed Date | 2008-01-03 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080003433 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Mikami; Masato |
January 3, 2008 |
Hollow device and manufacturing method thereof
Abstract
A hollow device includes: a hollow fiber that has a micro
channel; and a device body forming portion that is disposed around
a periphery of the hollow fiber.
Inventors: |
Mikami; Masato; (Kanagawa,
JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
OLIFF & BERRIDGE, PLC
P.O. BOX 320850
ALEXANDRIA
VA
22320-4850
US
|
Assignee: |
Fuji Xerox Co., LTD.
Tokyo
JP
|
Family ID: |
38877021 |
Appl. No.: |
11/589788 |
Filed: |
October 31, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
428/375 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B01J 2219/00788
20130101; B81B 2201/058 20130101; B01L 3/502707 20130101; B01L
3/561 20130101; B01J 2219/0086 20130101; B01L 2300/0838 20130101;
B01J 19/0093 20130101; B81C 1/00071 20130101; B01J 2219/00833
20130101; B01J 2219/00831 20130101; B01J 2219/00889 20130101; Y10T
428/2933 20150115 |
Class at
Publication: |
428/375 |
International
Class: |
D02G 3/00 20060101
D02G003/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jun 28, 2006 |
JP |
P2006-177862 |
Claims
1. A hollow device comprising: a hollow fiber that has a micro
channel; and a device body forming portion that is disposed around
a periphery of the hollow fiber.
2. The hollow device as claimed in claim 1, wherein a
cross-sectional shape of an outer periphery of the hollow fiber is
one of a circle, an ellipse, a polygon, a shape consisting of one
or more arbitrary curves, a shape consisting of one or more
arbitrary straight lines and one or more arbitrary curves.
3. The hollow device as claimed in claim 1, wherein a material of
the hollow fiber comprises a resin.
4. The hollow device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the material of
the hollow fiber comprises a carbon fiber.
5. The hollow device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the material of
the hollow fiber comprises a composite material of the resin and an
inorganic material.
6. The hollow device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the material of
the hollow fiber comprises a glass.
7. The hollow device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the material of
the hollow fiber comprises: a portion that has hydrophobic
property; and a portion that has hydrophilic property.
8. The hollow device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the material of
the hollow fiber comprises: a first permeable portion that gas is
able to permeate; and a second permeable portion that gas different
from the gas is able to permeate.
9. A method of manufacturing a hollow device, which comprises:
disposing a hollow fiber in a desired shape, the hollow fiber
having a micro channel; introducing a device body forming material
to around a periphery of the hollow fiber; and one of curing and
solidifying the device body forming material.
10. The method of manufacturing the hollow device as claimed in
claim 9, wherein a cross-sectional shape of an outer periphery of
the hollow fiber is one of a circle, an ellipse, a polygon, a shape
consisting of one or more arbitrary curves, a shape consisting of
one or more arbitrary straight lines and one or more arbitrary
curves.
11. The method of manufacturing the hollow device as claimed in
claim 9, wherein a material of the hollow fiber comprises a
resin.
12. The method of manufacturing the hollow device as claimed in
claim 9, wherein the material of the hollow fiber comprises a
carbon fiber.
13. The method of manufacturing the hollow device as claimed in
claim 9, wherein the material of the hollow fiber comprises a
composite material of the resin and an inorganic material.
14. The method of manufacturing the hollow device as claimed in
claim 9, wherein the material of the hollow fiber comprises a
glass.
15. The method of manufacturing the hollow device as claimed in
claim 9, wherein the material of the hollow fiber comprises: a
portion that has hydrophobic property and a portion that has
hydrophilic property.
16. The method of manufacturing the hollow device as claimed in
claim 9, wherein the material of the hollow fiber comprises: a
first permeable portion that gas is able to permeate; and a second
permeable portion that gas different from the gas is able to
permeate.
Description
BACKGROUND
[0001] 1. Technical Field
[0002] The present invention relates to a hollow device and a
manufacturing method thereof.
[0003] 2. Related Art
[0004] Conventionally, hollow devices are mainly formed of metallic
materials such as stainless steel. In this case, since the metallic
materials have extremely high melting temperatures, depending on
casting into a mold, it has been difficult to mold the hollow
device so as to have a hollow portion, particularly a micro channel
whose diameter is in micron units. For this reason, conventionally,
after capillary grooves are respectively formed in surfaces of two
parts of the metallic material by etching treatment, these two
parts are joined by welding or the like to form a tubular channel,
or a short tubular passage is formed in a metallic material by
laser processing, and these short tubular passages are joined to
form a channel.
[0005] In addition, in a conventional method of manufacturing a
hollow device using a high molecular resin, a high molecular resin
in a molten state is caused to flow into a mold having a convex
shape corresponding to a micro channel by injection molding to mold
a member (one resin-made member) having a groove corresponding to
the micro channel. A member (another resin-made member) separately
molded of a high polymer is joined to the surface with the groove
formed thereon, thereby molding a hollow device.
SUMMARY
[0006] According to a first aspect of the present invention, a
hollow device includes: a hollow fiber that has a micro channel;
and a device body forming portion that is disposed around a
periphery of the hollow fiber.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] Exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be
described in detail based on the following figures, wherein:
[0008] FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view, taken along an
axially central portion of a hollow fiber, of an example of a
hollow device in accordance with the invention;
[0009] FIGS. 2A to 2C are schematic diagrams that illustrate an
example of the hollow device and a manufacturing process thereof in
accordance with the invention;
[0010] FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view, taken along the
axially central portion of the hollow fiber, of another example of
the hollow device in accordance with the invention; and
[0011] FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view, taken along the
axially central portion of the hollow fiber, of still another
example of the hollow device in accordance with the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0012] A hollow device in accordance with the invention is
characterized by comprising: a hollow fiber having a micro channel;
and a device body forming portion disposed around a periphery of
the hollow fiber.
[0013] In addition, a method of manufacturing a hollow device in
accordance with the invention is characterized by comprising the
steps of; disposing a hollow fiber having a micro channel in a
desired shape; introducing a device body forming material to around
a periphery of the hollow fiber; and curing or solidifying the
device body forming material.
[0014] Hereafter, a detailed description will be given of the
invention with reference to the drawings.
[0015] In a conventional method of manufacturing a hollow device,
as in the invention described in the above-described patent
document 1, for instance, a method has been proposed in which a
fibrous hollow portion forming member, such as a metallic yarn, a
resinous yarn, a glass-made yarn, or a carbon-made yarn, is
stretched in a mold in a predetermined shape, a thermosetting resin
or a thermoplastic resin such as an epoxy resin is then filled into
the mold and is allowed to cure, and the fibrous hollow portion
forming member is removed after the formation of the device body.
Although the formation of a loop-like channel, a curved channel, a
channel in which a straight channel and a curved channel are
combined, and a channel in which a straight channel and a loop-like
channel are combined has been proposed in this method, the
manufacturing process is not easy, and it is difficult to process
and design the functions of the interior of the channel for the
purpose of high performance.
[0016] With the method described in the patent document 1, the
fibrous member is removed; however, in the hollow device and the
manufacturing method thereof in accordance with the invention, the
hollow fiber is used, and the hollow portion of the interior of the
hollow fiber is used as the micro channel. Therefore, the material
and structure of the hollow fiber can be selected from various
kinds, and the channel for imparting high performance can be
designed easily. In addition, since the channel is formed by the
hollow fiber, it is possible to obtain by batch molding a device
having a micro channel formed by designing an arbitrary hollow
fiber into a desired shape, such as a straight shape, a loop-like
shape, a curved shape, and a complex shape.
[0017] In the conventional method of manufacturing a device having
a micro channel, after capillary grooves are respectively formed in
surfaces of two parts of a metallic material by etching treatment,
these two parts are joined by welding or the like to form a tubular
channel. In another method, a short tubular passage is formed in a
metallic material by laser processing, and these short tubular
passages are joined to form a channel. In such methods and in the
manufacturing method using a high molecular resin, it is possible
to cite a method in which a high molecular resin in a molten state
is caused to flow into a mold having a convex shape corresponding
to a micro channel by injection molding to mold a member (one
resin-made member) having a groove corresponding to the micro
channel. A member (another resin-made member) separately molded of
a high polymer is joined to the surface with the groove formed
thereon, thereby molding a hollow device. However, with these
conventional methods, the process has been complex in that the
interior of the micro channel is coated with a high molecular
material after the formation of the channel for the purpose of high
performance.
[0018] On the other hand, in the invention, since the channel is
formed by the hollow fiber, by selecting the material and structure
of the hollow fiber, it is possible to easily obtain by batch
molding devices having micro channels of desired properties such
as, for example, a hydrophilic channel, a hydrophobic channel, a
combination of a hydrophilic channel and a hydrophobic channel, a
combination of channels which are selectively gas permeable, a
channel having a sea-island structure of an organic material and an
inorganic material, and so on.
(Hollow Device)
[0019] The hollow device in accordance with the invention is
characterized by comprising: a hollow fiber having a micro channel;
and a device body forming portion disposed around a periphery of
the hollow fiber.
[0020] In addition, the hollow device in accordance with the
invention should preferably be manufactured by the below-described
method of manufacturing a hollow device in accordance with the
invention.
[0021] As the hollow device in accordance with the invention, it is
possible to specifically cite the shapes such as those shown in
FIGS. 1 to 4, but the invention is not limited to the same.
[0022] FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view, taken along an
axially central portion of a hollow fiber, of the hollow device in
accordance with the invention.
[0023] A hollow device 10 shown in FIG. 1 is formed by a hollow
fiber 12, and a device body forming portion 14, and a micro channel
16 is formed in the interior of the hollow fiber 12. As the hollow
device is formed by disposing the hollow fiber 12 in a desired
shape at the time of the manufacture of the hollow device such
that, in FIG. 1, the micro channel 16 assumes a corrugated shape in
the vicinity of the center of the device, it is possible to easily
form a hollow device having a micro channel of an arbitrary
shape.
[0024] FIGS. 2A to 2C are schematic diagrams that illustrate an
example of the hollow device and a manufacturing process thereof in
accordance with the invention.
[0025] The hollow device 10 shown in FIG. 2 is a hollow device 10
(FIG. 2C) in which the micro channel 16 is formed spirally in the
central portion of the device. As a manufacturing method thereof, a
portion of the hollow fiber 12 is first wound spirally around a
cylindrical member 18 shown in FIG. 2A, and the device body forming
portion 14 is then formed while maintaining the shape of the hollow
fiber 12, thereby making it possible to easily manufacture the
hollow device 10.
(Hollow Fiber)
[0026] The hollow fiber which can be used in the invention is not
particularly limited insofar as the hollow fiber has a hollow
portion in the interior of the fiber, and the hollow portion of the
hollow fiber is capable of forming a micro channel when the hollow
device is manufactured. In addition, as the number of the hollow
fibers used in the hollow device in accordance with the invention,
one or two or more hollow fibers may be used.
[0027] The shape of the hollow fiber which can be used in the
invention is not particularly limited, and it is possible to cite a
shape in which a cross-sectional shape of the outer periphery of
the hollow fiber is, for example, a circle, an ellipse, a polygon,
a shape consisting of one or more arbitrary curves, a shape
consisting of one or more arbitrary straight lines and one or more
arbitrary curves, and the like. In addition, the shape of the micro
channel in the interior of the hollow fiber is similarly not
particularly limited, and it is possible to cite a shape in which a
cross-sectional shape of the outer periphery of the hollow fiber
is, for example, a circle, an ellipse, a polygon, a shape
consisting of one or more arbitrary curves, a shape consisting of
one or more arbitrary straight lines and one or more arbitrary
curves, and the like.
[0028] In addition, the hollow fiber which can be used in the
invention may have in the interior of one hollow fiber only one
micro channel or two or more micro channels, as required.
[0029] In the hollow device in accordance with the invention, the
length of the hollow fiber, i.e., the length of the micro channel,
is not particularly limited, and the hollow device can be formed by
using a desired length.
[0030] In addition, the above-described hollow fiber may not have a
uniform shape or channel diameter in the overall hollow fiber, and
it is sufficient if the hollow fiber has a desired shape and fiber
diameter.
[0031] The micro channel which is formed by the above-described
hollow fiber is sufficient if it is a channel of a micro scale in
at least its portion. Namely, the width of the portion where the
width (channel diameter) of the channel is the narrowest in the
hollow device in accordance with the invention is 5,000 .mu.m,
preferably in a range of 10 to 1,000 .mu.m, and more preferably in
a range of 30 to 500 .mu.m. Further, the depth of the channel is
preferably in a range of 10 to 1,000 .mu.m.
[0032] In addition, the fiber diameter of the above-described
hollow fiber is not particularly limited, and the hollow fiber
should preferably be such that the one or more micro channels
formed in the hollow fiber are formed with the above-described
channel diameter. The fiber diameter of the above-described hollow
fiber is preferably in a range of 10 to 2,000 .mu.m, more
preferably in a range of 30 to 1,000 .mu.m.
[0033] In addition, the micro channel formed by the above-described
hollow fiber may not have a uniform shape or channel diameter in
the overall hollow fiber, and it is sufficient if the micro channel
has a desired shape and channel diameter.
[0034] As the hollow fiber which can be used in the invention, it
is possible to suitably use, for instance, commercially available
hollow fibers. Owing to the development of fiber forming technology
in recent years, hollow fibers of various materials have been
fabricated. In particular, hollow fibers made of such resins as
polyethylene, polypropylene, polyimide, fluororesin, and polyester
have been marketed by fiber manufacturers. As for these hollow
fibers, various materials, functions, and shapes have been designed
in tune with the objectives. As compared with conventionally
fabricated devices having micro channels, the use of these hollow
fibers as micro channels makes it possible to easily impart to
channels functions including a multiplicity of kinds of materials,
shapes, and surface characteristics through the combination of
hollow fibers.
[0035] In addition, since the hollow fibers are fibrous, it is
easily possible to form various channels including loop-like
channels, curved channels, and straight channels, or combinations
thereof; In addition, it is readily possible to form these channels
in one device by using one hollow fiber.
[0036] As the material of the hollow fiber, it is possible to use
any materials such as a resin (high molecular compound), a carbon
fiber, a composite material of a resin and an inorganic material
such as silica particles and clay, glass, and a metal insofar as
they are capable of forming hollow fibers. Among these, because of
ease of the fabrication of a hollow fiber and in light of the
selectivity and high performance of the material, a resin, a carbon
fiber, a composite material of a resin and an inorganic material,
or glass is preferable, and a resin is particularly preferable.
[0037] As for the hollow fiber which can be used in the invention,
it is preferable to use two or more kinds of hollow fibers by
connecting and combining them. The method of connecting the hollow
fibers is not particularly limited, and it suffices if an end of
one hollow fiber, an end of another hollow fiber, and an end of
still another fiber are connected by a known method. As specific
methods of connecting the hollow fibers, it is possible to cite by
way of example a method of connecting an end of a hollow fiber and
an end of another hollow fiber by an adhesive or the like, a method
of thermally fusing ends, a method of connecting two hollow fibers
at their ends by a joint member, and so on.
[0038] In addition, in the manufacture of the hollow fiber, one
hollow fiber having two or more portions whose properties are
different may be manufactured and may be used as the hollow device
in accordance with the invention.
[0039] In the conventional micro channel devices, it has been
difficult to modify the inner wall of the micro channel and impart
specific properties and functions thereto.
[0040] In the hollow device in accordance with the invention, since
the micro channel is formed by the hollow fiber, the inner wall
portion of the micro channel can be easily functionalized only by
using a hollow fiber having desired properties and functions.
[0041] As for the hollow fibers which can be used in the invention,
in light of imparting specific properties and functions, it is
preferable to use hollow fibers which have such properties and
functions as the hydrophilic property, the hydrophobic property,
selective gas permeability, selective liquid permeability,
reactivity, compound selective reactivity, and/or a filtering
function, a dialyzing function, and the like.
[0042] In addition, in the hollow device in accordance with the
invention, since the channel is formed by the hollow fiber, by
selecting the material and structure of the hollow fiber, it is
possible to easily obtain micro channels of desired properties such
as, for example, a combination of a hydrophilic channel and a
hydrophobic channel, a combination of channels which are
selectively gas permeable, a channel having a sea-island structure
of an organic material and an inorganic material, and so on.
[0043] As the combination of a hydrophilic channel and a
hydrophobic channel, it is possible to cite by way of example the
hollow device of the invention such as the one shown in FIG. 3.
[0044] FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view, taken along the
axially central portion of the hollow fiber, of the hollow device
in accordance with the invention.
[0045] The hollow device 10 shown in FIG. 3 is a device in which
the hollow fiber 12 is formed by a hydrophilic hollow fiber 12a and
a hydrophobic hollow fiber 12b, and the property of the inner wall
portion of the micro channel changes between the hydrophilic
property and the hydrophobic property at a joint portion 20 serving
as a boundary.
[0046] As the combination of channels which are selectively gas
permeable, it is possible to cite by way of example the hollow
device of the invention such as the one shown in FIG. 4.
[0047] FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view, taken along the
axially central portion of the hollow fiber, of the hollow device
in accordance with the invention.
[0048] The hollow device 10 shown in FIG. 4 is a device in which
the hollow fiber 12 is formed by a hollow fiber 12c having a
deoxidizing property and a hollow fiber 12d having a water vapor
permeation property, and the property of the inner wall portion of
the micro channel changes between the deoxidizing property and the
water vapor permeation property at the joint portion 20 serving as
a boundary.
[0049] In addition, the hollow fiber which can be used in the
invention may have a bifurcation or branches. Namely, the micro
channel in the hollow device in accordance with the invention may
have a bifurcation or branches.
[0050] In addition, a plurality of hollow fibers may be connected
by a joint member provided with a micro channel having a
bifurcation or branches, thereby forming bifurcated or branched
micro channel portions in the hollow device.
[0051] Specifically, it is possible cite a method in which grooves
of a desired bifurcation or branches are formed in a substrate
which forms a part of the device body forming portion, and hollow
fibers are disposed and fixed in these portion, and are subjected
to molding with a device body forming material, as well as a method
in which hollow fibers are connected by using a commercially
available joint or an epoxy resin-made joint fabricated by a laser
molding method, so as to obtain a molded body having a bifurcation
or branches.
(Device Body Forming Portion)
[0052] As the material of the device body forming portion in the
hollow device in accordance with the invention, it is possible to
cite by way of example a metal, a ceramic, glass, silicon, and a
resin. In light of ease of molding, glass, silicon, or a resin is
preferable, and it is more preferable to use a high molecular
material such as a reactive resin having a thermosetting property
or a photo-curing property, a thermoplastic resin, and the
like.
[0053] In addition, in the hollow device in accordance with the
invention, the material of the device body forming portion and the
material of the hollow fiber should preferably be different
materials.
[0054] In the case where a thermosetting resin or a thermoplastic
resin is used, it is preferable to select such a material that the
melting point of the material of the hollow fiber is higher than
that of the material of the device body forming portion. In
addition, in a case where a material which has been fused by a
solvent is used, it is preferable to select such a material that
the material of the hollow fiber has resistance against the solvent
fusing the material.
[0055] In addition, as the resin which is used as the material of
the device body forming portion, the resin should preferably be
such a resin that the shock resistance, the heat resistance, the
chemical resistance, the transparency, and the like are suitable
for the reaction or the unit operation which is performed.
Specifically, as preferred resins it is possible to cite by way of
illustration a polyester resin, a styrene resin, an acrylic resin,
a styrene-acrylic resin, a silicone resin, an epoxy resin, a
diene-based resin, a phenolic resin, a terpene resin, a coumarin
resin, an amide resin, an amide-imide resin, a butyral resin, a
urethane resin, an ethylene-vinyl acetate resin, and the like.
However, an epoxy resin is more preferable.
[0056] In addition, as the aforementioned thermosetting resin,
photo-curing resin, and thermoplastic resin, it is possible to
suitably use those described in "Koubunshi Jiten (Concise
Encyclopedia of Polymer Science and Engineering)" (1994, published
by Maruzen Company, Limited), as required.
[0057] The size of the hollow device in accordance with the
invention can be set appropriately in tune with the objective of
use, as required, but a range of 1 to 100 cm.sup.2 is preferable,
and a range of 10 to 40 cm.sup.2 is more preferable. In addition,
the thickness of the hollow device is preferably in a range of 2 to
30 mm, more preferably in a range of 3 to 15 mm.
[0058] The hollow device in accordance with the invention may have,
in addition to the micro channel formed by the hollow fiber,
another micro channel and portions having the functions of
reaction, mixing, separation, refining, analyzing, cleaning, and
the like in correspondence with its applications.
[0059] Further, the hollow device in accordance with the invention
may be provided with, for example, a liquid feeding port for
feeding a liquid to the hollow device and a collection port for
collecting a liquid from the hollow device, as required.
[0060] In addition, the hollow device in accordance with the
invention may be combined with devices having the functions of
reaction, mixing, separation, refining, analyzing, cleaning, and
the like, as well as a liquid feeding device, a collecting device,
another micro channel device, and the like in correspondence with
its applications, thereby making it possible to suitably construct
a micro chemical system.
(Method of Manufacturing Hollow Device)
[0061] The method of manufacturing a hollow device in accordance
with the invention is characterized by including a step of
disposing a hollow fiber having a micro channel in a desired shape
(hereafter also referred to as the "disposing step"), a step of
introducing a device body forming material to around a periphery of
the hollow fiber (hereafter also referred to as the "introducing
step"), and a step of curing or solidifying the device body forming
material (hereafter also referred to as the "fixing step").
[0062] The disposing step is one in which, in tune with the
objective of use, a suitable hollow fiber having a micro channel is
selected, and the hollow fiber is disposed in a desired shape in
tune with the design of the channel. As preferred methods of
disposing the hollow fiber in a desired shape, it is possible to
cite by way of illustration a method in which the hollow fiber is
disposed in a mold which is used at the time of forming the device
body forming portion or in a substrate fabricated of a device body
forming material, and a method in which the hollow fiber is
disposed in a desired shape by using an auxiliary member such as
the cylindrical member shown in FIG. 2, as described before,
[0063] The introducing step is one in which the device body forming
material is introduced to around the hollow fiber in conformity
with the shape of the hollow fiber. The device body forming
material which is introduced should preferably be a fluid when
introduced, and may be used in a state in which it is dissolved or
dispersed in a solvent.
[0064] In addition, as for the method of manufacturing a hollow
device in accordance with the invention, after the device body
forming material is introduced to around the hollow fiber, the
hollow fiber may be disposed in a desired shape, or may be disposed
in a desired shape while the device body forming material is being
introduced to around the hollow fiber. Namely, in the method of
manufacturing a hollow device in accordance with the invention, the
introducing step may be performed after the disposing step is
effected, the disposing step may be performed after the introducing
step is effected, or the disposing step and the introducing step
may be performed simultaneously.
[0065] The fixing step is one in which the device body forming
material is cured or solidified by an appropriate means such as
heating, cooling, application of light, drying, desolventing,
compression, and the like. In addition, the "curing" or
"solidification" is sufficient if the disposition of the hollow
fiber disposed inside the device does not change, and the device
body forming material is cured or solidified to hardness which does
not present a problem when the hollow device is used. The hollow
device itself may be deformable by a stress as in the case of
rubber or the like.
[0066] As preferred specific methods of manufacturing a hollow
device in accordance with the invention, it is possible to cite by
way of example a method in which a suitable hollow fiber is
selected in tune with the objective of use of the hollow device,
the hollow fiber is fixed in a substrate which forms a part of the
device body forming portion in tune with the design of the channel,
and a device body forming material is introduced into a mold and is
solidified to thereby obtain a molded body, and a method in which a
suitable hollow fiber is selected in tune with the objective of use
of the hollow device, the hollow fiber is fixed in a mold in tune
with the design of the channel, and a device body forming material
is introduced into the mold and is solidified to thereby obtain a
molded body.
EXAMPLES
[0067] Hereafter, a detailed description will be given of the
invention by citing examples, but the invention is not limited to
the same.
First Example
[0068] After a polyethylene-made hollow fiber (made by Mitsubishi
Rayon Co. Ltd.) was disposed in a mold such that a central portion
was set in a corrugated shape and the remaining portions were set
in a straight shape, as shown in FIG. 1, an epoxy resin in a state
of a solution (made by Japan Epoxy Resins Co., Ltd.; liquid grade:
821, curing agent grade: 3019) was allowed to flow into the mold,
and was subjected to heat treatment at 80.degree. C. for 3 hours to
solidify the high molecular resin, thereby fabricating a hollow
device having a micro channel
Second Example
[0069] After a hydrophobic polyethylene-made hollow fiber (made by
Mitsubishi Rayon Co. Ltd.) and a hydrophilic ethylene-vinyl alcohol
copolymer-made hollow fiber (made by Kawasumi Laboratories, Inc.)
were combined and were disposed in a mold, as shown in FIG. 3, the
epoxy resin in a state of a solution (made by Japan Epoxy Resins
Co., Ltd.; liquid grade: 821, curing agent grade: 3019) was allowed
to flow into the mold, and was subjected to heat treatment at
80.degree. C. for 3 hours to solidify the high molecular resin,
thereby fabricating a hollow device having a micro channel.
Third Example
[0070] A polytetrafluoroethylene-made hollow fiber having a
deoxidizing property (SEPAREL/PF-F made by Dainippon Ink and
Chemicals Incorporated) and a polyimide-made hollow fiber having a
water vapor permeation property (made by UBE INDUSTRIES, LTD. were
combined and disposed, an epoxy resin in a molten state (made by
Japan Epoxy Resins Co., Ltd.; liquid grade: 821, curing agent
grade: 3019) was allowed to flow into the mold, and was subjected
to heat treatment at 80.degree. C. for 3 hours to solidity the high
molecular resin, thereby fabricating a hollow device having a micro
channel. Pumps were respectively installed at a channel inlet port
and an outlet port of the fabricated hollow device, the flow rate
was adjusted to regulate the internal pressure, and an ethanol in
which oxygen and water were dissolved was allowed to flow. As a
result of the measurement of the amount of oxygen and the amount of
water dissolved in the ethanol which passed through the channel,
both the amount of dissolved oxygen and the amount of dissolved
water were observed to have dropped in comparison with the state
before the flow through the channel.
* * * * *