화학공학소재연구정보센터
Journal of Membrane Science, Vol.471, 201-210, 2014
Breath figure templating for fabrication of polysulfone microporous membranes with highly ordered monodispersed porosity
Polysulfone membranes having highly ordered pores in uniform micron size range were fabricated using breath figure (BF) templating in combination with phase separation. Specifically, membranes with average pore opening of 1.5 mu m, 2.5 mu m, 2.8 mu m and 3.4 mu m and tubular pore cross-sections were prepared. Different solvent systems, dilutions and casting conditions were tested to realize BF templating for fabrication of microporous membranes with controlled and uniform pore sizes. PSF dissolved in a solvent-nonsolvent pair of dichloromethane and tertiary amyl alcohol at 6-10% (w/v) concentration cast at 85-95% relative humidity and 30 degrees C resulted in microporous membranes with uniform monodispersecl, nearly hexagonally packed pore openings. The cross-sections revealed tubular channels or macrovoids followed by closed or interconnected cellular structure formed due to phase separation. In absence of internal nonsolvent BF templating could occur only in very dilute solution. The work also underscores need for immiscibility of casting solvents with water. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved