Effect of non-solvents used in the coagulation bath on morphology of PVDF membranes

• Published in: Materials research (São Carlos, São Paulo, Brazil) Vol. 15; no. 6; pp. 884 - 890
• Main Authors: Thürmer, Mônica Beatriz, Poletto, Patrícia, Marcolin, Marcos, Duarte, Jocelei, Zeni, Mara
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: ABM, ABC, ABPol 01-12-2012; Associação Brasileira de Metalurgia e Materiais (ABM); Associação Brasileira de Cerâmica (ABC); Associação Brasileira de Polímeros (ABPol)
• Subjects: contact angle; ENGINEERING, CHEMICAL; hydrophobicity; immersion-precipitation; MATERIALS SCIENCE, MULTIDISCIPLINARY; METALLURGY & METALLURGICAL ENGINEERING; poly (vinylidene fluoride); supported membrane; supported membrane; poly (vinylidene fluoride); hydrophobicity; contact angle; immersion-precipitation
• ISSN: 1516-1439; 1980-5373; 1980-5373
• DOI: 10.1590/S1516-14392012005000115

The aim of this paper was to prepare a poly (vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) membrane using different non-solvents in the coagulation bath for the phase inversion method. In order to increase the mechanical strength of membranes, facing the pressure of work, was used a macro-porous polyester support. The morphology and structure of the resulting membranes were evaluated by scanning electron microscopy, porosity measurements, water and 1-octanol uptake, contact angle, pure water flux, hydraulic permeability and hydraulic resistance. The morphology and pure water flux changed significantly using ethanol (symmetric membrane) and/or water (asymmetric membrane) as the non-solvent. The symmetric membrane presented a high hydrophobic surface (water contact angle ~136º) and a higher pure water flux and porosity than the asymmetric membrane, which presented a lower hydrophobicity surface (water contact angle ~90º). The morphologies obtained suggest different applications.