Membrane formation via phase separation induced by penetration of nonsolvent from vapor phase. I. Phase diagram and mass transfer process

The isothermal phase diagram for poly(vinylidene fluoride)/dimethyl formamide/water system was derived. The binodal and spinodal were calculated based on the Flory–Huggins theory and the calculated binodal was approximately in agreement with the experimental data of the cloud points. The isothermal crystallization line was also obtained according to the theory of melting point depression. Mass transfer of the three components during membrane formation by the precipitation from the vapor phase has been analyzed. During this process, phase separation of the polymer solution is induced by the penetration of water vapor in the solution. The calculated result on the changes of the cast film weights indicated the good agreement with the experimental data. The time‐course of the polymer concentration profile in the film was calculated for various cases of different humidity of the vapor phase and different initial polymer concentration. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 74: 159–170, 1999     

Preparation and membrane performance of poly(ethylene-co-vinyl alcohol) hollow fiber membrane via thermally induced phase separation

Poly(ethylene-co-vinyl alcohol) (EVOH) hollow fiber membranes with ultrafiltration performance were prepared from EVOH/glycerol systems via thermally induced phase separation (TIPS). The diluent glycerol was used as bore liquid to make a lumen of the hollow fiber for the purpose of prevention of the diluent evaporation and the larger pores formation at the inner surface of the hollow fiber. The obtained hollow fiber membranes showed asymmetric structures with skin layer near the outer surface, the larger pores just below the skin layer and the smaller pores near the inner surface. The formation of the larger pores near the outer surface was due to the enhanced pore growth by the water penetration. Some primary factors affecting the structure and performance of the membranes such as ethylene content (EC) in EVOH, cooling water bath temperature and take-up speed were studied extensively. The water permeability can be improved by increasing the water bath temperature and the take-up speed and by decreasing the EC. Both the pore size at the outer surface and the connectivity between the pores have to be considered together to understand the experimental result of the water permeability and the solute rejection.     

四苯基氯化鏻对聚偏氟乙烯电活性相的诱导作用

摘要：通过简单的熔体共混方法,将不同质量分数的高熔点高活性的四苯基氯化鏻(TPPC)与聚偏氟乙烯(PVDF)混合,探究了TPPC对PVDF极性相的诱导作用,并研究了此体系与熔体结晶过程最为相近的非等温结晶过程。结果表明,添加极少量(0.4%)的TPPC即可以使PVDF直接从熔体中全部以极性相结晶,这归因于TPPC固体表面的电荷与PVDF分子链之间强烈的相互作用。TPPC的加入使PVDF的非等温结晶行为发生了很大的变化,当TPPC含量达到0.4%时,降温结晶曲线出现两个结晶峰,也是这种反常的结晶行为才能使PVDF几乎全部以极性相结晶。     

Stretching induced phase separation in poly(vinylidene fluoride)/poly(butylene succinate) blends studied by in-situ X-ray scattering

The structure evolution of poly(vinylidene fluoride)/poly(butylene succinate) (PVDF/PBS) blends during stretching above the melting point of PBS is investigated by synchrotron-based simultaneous wide angle and small angle X-ray scattering (WAXS/SAXS). Before stretching, PVDF crystallizes into the α-form, whereas the chains of molten PBS locate at the inter-lamellar amorphous phase of PVDF. Crystal transition from α to β of PVDF is observed in all samples during stretching. The morphological transformation from a lamellar structure into a fibrillar structure occurs at low and intermediate strains. With further deformation, a “stretching induced phase separation” phenomenon is observed. The final microstructure of PVDF/PBS blends contains PVDF microfibrils with PBS chains preferentially distributed in the inter-fibrillar region. The PBS molecular weight influences the onset and end strain for the transition. A new “two-step model” is proposed to describe the deformation process.     

Characteristics of poly(ether ether ketone) microporous membranes prepared via thermally induced phase separation (TIPS)

The morphology and bulk properties of microporous membranes based on poly (ether ether ketone) (PEEK) have been investigated as a function of initial casting composition and thermal and mechanical processing history. Membranes were prepared via solid—liquid phase separation of miscible blends of PEEK and polyetherimide (PEI), with subsequent extraction of the PEI diluent. Scanning electron microscopy studies revealed a microporous morphology with two distinct pore size scales corresponding to diluent extraction from interfibrillar and interspherulitic regions, respectively. The membrane structure was sensitive to both initial blend composition and crystallization temperature, with the resulting pore size distribution reflecting the kinetics of phase separation. For membranes prepared with lower initial diluent content or at lower crystallization temperatures, mercury intrusion porosimetry indicated a relatively narrow distribution of fine interfibrillar pores, with an average pore size of approximately 0.04 microns. Membranes prepared at higher diluent content or at higher crystallization temperatures displayed a broad pore distribution, with a sizeable population of coarse, interspherulitic pores (0.1 to 1 μm in size). Uniaxial drawing led to a fibrillated network structure with markedly higher water flux characteristics compared to the as-cast membranes. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 66: 2347–2355, 1997     

强疏水性PDMS/PVDF微孔膜的制备及其性能研究

利用非溶剂相转化法（NIPS）,通过在聚偏氟乙烯(PVDF)铸膜液中加入聚二甲基硅氧烷(PDMS),制备了PDMS/PVDF共混疏水微孔膜,并研究了凝胶浴组成（水/乙醇）对铸膜液凝胶动力学、膜形貌、疏水性及力学性能的影响。结果表明,随着凝胶浴中乙醇百分含量由零增加至100 %时,PDMS/PVDF共混膜的断面上指状孔基本消失,海绵状孔结构贯穿断面;当凝胶浴中乙醇含量为100 %时,PDMS与PVDF发生分相;膜表面疏水性能增加,水接触角达到139.68 °;弹性模量、拉伸强度、断裂伸长率分别由（48.06±4.20）、（2.82±0.15） MPa、（92.90±2.53） %下降至（15.70±2.83）、（0.72±0.13） MPa、（15.47±1.63） %。     

PEG含量对PVDF/PEG共混膜性能的影响

以聚乙二醇(PEG)为添加剂,利用非溶剂致相分离法制备了聚偏氟乙烯(PVDF)/PEG共混膜,使用傅里叶变换红外光谱、X射线衍射、扫描电子显微镜、接触角测量等表征测试方法,研究了PEG含量对PVDF/PEG共混膜性能的影响。结果发现,PEG的加入使PVDF的结晶性能下降,同时也使其结构发生了变化。但是由于PEG的亲水性,当PEG的质量分数小于5%时,PVDF/PEG共混膜的亲水性随着PEG含量的增大而逐渐得到改善。     

Morphology and melting behaviour of poly(vinylidene fluoride) crystallized from the melt

The influence of crystallization temperature on the melting behaviour and the morphology of poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVF₂) has been investigated. The DSC endotherms of PVF₂ crystallized from the melt show at least two peaks. The peak areas depend on the thermal history of the samples and the heating scan rate. The area of the first peak was found to increase as the crystallization temperature or the scan rate increased. The double peak configuration was attributed to a melting–recrystallization process. Electron microscopy supports these results, for which only one type of lamella was found in the spherulitic structure.