(US4438185-A)      Process for rendering a normally hydrophobic microporous membrane hydrophilic and reducing its electrical resistance is claimed. A coating of cellulose ester or PVA is applied to the membrane surface in an amt. to give a dry coating thickness of 1-25 microns. The membrane is impregnated with sufficient surfactant to render the membrane hydrophilic in the absence of the coating.    The membrane is rapidly wettable in aq., pref. alkaline solns. and is dimensionally stable in alkaline soln. When the membrane is used as a battery separator for a Ni-Zn battery plugging of its pores by electrode ions, e.g. ZnO, is avoided. When it is used in a Ag-Zn battery migration of Ag ions through it is avoided. (17pp)b    (JP94019980-B2)      Process for rendering a normally hydrophobic microporous membrane hydrophilic and reducing its electrical resistance is claimed. A coating of cellulose ester of PVA is applied to the membrane surface in an amt. to give a dry coating thickness of 1-25 microns. The membrane is impregnated with sufficient surfactant to render the membrane hydrophilic in the absence of the coating.    The membrane is rapidly wettable in aq. pref. alkaline solns. and is dimensionally stable in alkaline soln. When the membrane is used as a battery separator for a Ni-Zn battery plugged of its pores by electrode ions, e.g. ZnO is avoided. When it is used in a Ag-Zn battery migration of Ag ions through it is avoided. (J57055964-A)    (DE3130069-C2)      A hydrophilic, open cell, microporous membrane consists of (A) a know, hydrophobic, microporous membrane with (B) a 1-25 microns thick, dry state, layer of a cellulose ester, pref. cellulose acetate, or polyvinyl alcohol is applied to at least 1 surface of (A). Sufficient surfactant is provided within the coated microporous membrane to render (A) hydrophilic. The applied layer pref. contains right from the start surfactant, esp. in amounts of 8-40 wt.% referred to (A) and 20-200 wt.% referred to (B). The surfactant is e.g. a silicone/glycol copolymer, an ethoxylated 2-Et-hexyl phosphate. The membrane is produced from a polyolefin using a dry or solvent orientation, has a pore size 0.02-1 microns, a porosity 30-85% and a spec surface at least 20 m2/g. The coating is 1-10 microns thick in the dry state. A non-woven layer of randomly arranged endless fibres e.g. polyolefin, polyacetal is embossed onto the surface of the membrane.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   As separator in (rechargeable) batteries. The membrane can be rapidly wetted in aq. esp. alkaline, media. A normally hydrophobic membrane is made hydrophilic. The membrane is dimensionally stable in alkaline media. Blocking of pores by ions originating from an electrode is minimised. Migration of Ag ions through the membrane in an Ag/Zn battery is delayed.