| abstract |
A three-dimensional, microporous polymer cell structure has a multiplicity of essentially spherical microcells. These have a mean diameter C of 0.5 - 100 microns and are essentially uniformly distributed over the structure. Adjacent cells are connected to one another by pores. The diameter of these pores is smaller than that of the microcells. The pore size distribution corresponds to a sharpness factor S in the range from 1 - 30. The decimal logarithm of the ratio between the mean cell diameter C and the mean pore diameter P has a value in the range from 0.2 - 2.4, and the decimal logarithm of the ratio between the sharpness factor S and the mean cell diameter C has a value in the range from -1.4 to 1.0. The pores and the cells are empty, and the polymer is a synthetic thermoplastic polymer from the class consisting of homopolymers and copolymers of ethylenically unsaturated monomers, condensation polymers and oxidation polymers, or a mixture of synthetic thermoplastic polymers belonging to this class. A further three-dimensional, microporous polymer cell structure corresponds to the above-described polymer cell structure, but at least some of the cells and pores therein are filled with a liquid active ingredient. The liquid active ingredient can be a lubricant, a surfactant, a glidant, a pesticide, a plasticiser, a medicament, a propellant additive, a polish, an insect-protection agent (insecticide), a flameproofing agent, an antioxidant, an antifogging agent or a fragrance. |