Deformable Film Made of at Least One Inorganic Non-Metallic Material, Method for Its Production, and Its Use

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This invention relates to a flexible (deformable) film made from at least one inorganic, non-metallic material (such as glass, ceramics, or oxides) with a controlled porous structure. The film features precisely defined porosity (10%-90%), thickness (1–100 µm), and pore sizes (2–500 nm). This unique combination results in a material that merges high mechanical flexibility with exceptional thermal and chemical stability compared to conventional plastic films. The patent also covers methods for manufacturing such films and their use in diverse applications, particularly those requiring resistance to heat and solvents and controlled interaction with guest materials (e.g., drugs, catalysts, or other functional agents).

Use CasesContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

• Transdermal drug delivery systems (patches) for controlled release of pharmaceuticals, including difficult-to-dissolve drugs
• Implant components for long-term, controlled medication release and biocompatible barriers
• Barrier membranes in contraception applications (physical and drug-containing barriers)
• Flexible membranes for high-temperature or chemically aggressive filtration (e.g., gas separation, ultrafiltration, fuel cells)
• Substrates or supports for tissue engineering and cell growth in biotechnology
• Components in catalysis and sensor technologies (e.g., as supports for active phases or molecular sieves)
• Optoelectronic devices requiring high temperature- and chemical-resistance, or specific optical properties (transparency)
• Separator or structural elements in flexible batteries, fuel cells, and solar cells
• Forensic security tags or identification devices with advanced material properties

BenefitsContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

• Combines flexibility (mechanical deformability) with high mechanical strength—unusual for inorganic, non-metallic materials
• Exhibits outstanding thermal stability, functioning at higher temperatures than standard plastics
• Resistant to organic solvents and chemically aggressive environments
• Porosity and pore size can be tuned for application-specific requirements (e.g., controlled diffusion, selective permeability)
• Optical transparency can be achieved, enabling visible-light applications and inspection
• Can load and control release of functional guest materials (e.g., drugs, catalysts, nanoparticles) with adjustable kinetics
• Enables anisotropic pore orientation for directional transport or specialty applications
• Minimizes unwanted interactions (e.g., with water, air, or polymers), thus increasing durability and compatibility, especially for sensitive pharmaceuticals
• Allows the design of multifunctional, robust, and highly customizable advanced materials for several industrial, medical, and technological sectors

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Inventors & Applicants

Patent Abstract

The invention relates to a deformable film made of at least one inorganic nonmetallic material which has pores, at least in some areas. The porosity of the deformable film is 10% to 90%, the thickness of the deformable film is 1 µm to 100 µm, and the average pore diameter of the pores is 2 nm to 500 nm. Because of the combination of these specific parameters, a film which is both deformable and also has good mechanical stability and breaking strength is obtained. In addition, the deformable film has a higher stability with respect to high temperatures and organic solvents than plastic films. The invention further relates to a method for producing the deformable film according to the invention and to the use of the deformable film according to the invention.