JournalofMembraneScrence,73(1分析.PDFVIP

Journal of Membrane Scrence, 73 (1992) 277-292 277 Elsevler Science Pubhshers B V , Amsterdam Microstructures in phase inversion membranes. Part 2. The role of a polymeric additive* R.M. Boom, I.M. Wlenk, Th. van den Boomgaard and C A. Smolders Department of Chemical Technology, Unwerslty of Twente, P 0 Box 217, 7500 AE Enschede (The Netherlands) (Received July 31, 191, accepted m revised form April 16,1992) Abstract Membranes were prepared from a castmg solution of a water-soluble polymer, poly (vmyl pyrrohdone) (PVP), and a membrane forming polymer, poly (ether sulfone), m l-methyl-2-pyrrohdone (NMP) as solvent by immersing them m mixtures of water and NMP It was found that the addltlon of PVP to the ternary system suppresses the formatlon of macrovolds m the sub-layer, while the ultraflltratlon-type top-layer consists of a closely packed layer of nodules Using a model for mass transfer m this quaternary system, it 1s possible to explam the effects of the additive on macrovold formation Strong mdlcatlons are found that the appearance of a nodular structure m the top-layer follows a mechanism of spmodal decomposltlon dunng the very early stages of the lmmerslon step Keywords membrane preparation and structure, theory, thermodynamics, macrovolds, phase-mverslon membranes Introduction mixing occurring during immersion preclpltatlo