Capillary transport and storage of fluids
The inherently hydrophobic polyethylene can be made hydrophilic by a special treatment. Therfore, it is particularly well suited for applications such as:
The capillary forces occurring in the pore channels of SIPERM®-materials can be used to absorb fluids and selectively release them again. Applications for this are e.g. writing tips, lubricant depots for the moving parts of electrical equipment (e.g. needle writer, plotter), the permanent lubrication of mechanical components or the textile industry, where the highly porous material is required to release a certain amount of oil to a fast-running thread in order smoothen it.
