PDMS/PVDF microporous membrane with semi‐interpenetrating polymer networks for vacuum membrane distillation

In this article, using the non‐solvent induced phase separation process, a new microporous membrane with the semi‐interpenetrating polymer network (semi‐IPN) structure was produced. For this membrane, polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) polymer is crosslinking and poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) polymer is linear, by changing the mass ratio of PDMS/PVDF, the structure and the performance of the prepared membranes were studied. The membranes were also investigated by attenuated total reflection‐Fourier transform infrared (ATR‐FTIR), scanning electron microscopy–energy‐dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy, X‐ray diffraction, thermogravimetric analysis, and water contact angle, etc. ATR‐FTIR spectroscopy confirmed the formation of semi‐IPN; compared with the PDMS/PVDF polymer without semi‐IPNs structure, the viscosity of the semi‐IPNs structured casting solution increased, membrane mechanical property increased but its hydrophobicity decreased. Using the resulting membranes for the vacuum membrane distillation desalt of the NaCl solution (30 g/L), 99.9% salt rejection and reasonable flux were obtained. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2018 , 135, 45792.