Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Structural transition of asymmetric poly(ether imide) membrane prepared by wet phase inversion

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Polymer Bulletin Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The structure of membrane prepared by the phase inversion process shows a strong dependency on the casting thickness as well as composition of cast polymer solution. At the present work, these two factors are probed for poly(etherimide) (PEI) membranes prepared via the NIPS process. Three systematic variations in solvent composition from N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP) and dimethylformamide (DMF) were applied; including pure NMP, 50NMP:50DMF, and 25NMP:75DMF. The critical thickness was determined by means of solution casting at a broad range of thickness. The scanning electron micrograph of cross-section membranes reveals that critical thickness of PEI membrane is taken place at thicknesses of 9.7, 19.2 and 22.5 µm when the ratios of 0:100, 50:50, and 25:75 for NMP:DMF are employed, respectively. Shrinkage values which are calculated via a novel method can subscribe the effect of casting thickness and also quality of solvent on final membrane structure. The shrinkage values are altered exponentially by increasing the cast solution thickness in pure NMP solvent system. Gradual addition of DMF to the solvent system takes the later trend to linear form. It has been argued that increase in DMF content of solvent system leads to a greater demixing gap in the ternary phase diagram; it can also result in a higher solvent/polymer interaction parameter.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Aroon MA, Ismail AF, Montazer-Rahmati Matsuura MMT (2010) Morphology and permeation properties of polysulfone membranes for gas separation: effects of non-solvent additives and co-solvent. Sep Purif Technol 72:194–202

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Azari S, Karimi M, Kish MH (2010) Structural properties of the poly(acrylonitrile) membrane prepared with different cast thicknesses. Ind Eng Chem 49:2442–2448

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Kools WFC (1986) Membrane formation by phase inversion in multicomponent polymer system, mechanisms and morphologies. PhD thesis, College of Promoties, University of Twente

  4. Van de Witte P, Dijkstra PJ, van den Berg JWA, Feijen J (1996) Phase separation processes in polymer solutions in relation to membrane formation. J Membr Sci 117:1–31

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Albrecht W, Weigel Th, Schossig-Tiedemann M (2001) Formation of hollow fiber membranes from poly(ether imide) at wet phase inversion using binary mixtures of solvent for the preparation of the dope. J Membr Sci 192:217–230

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Hyder MN, Huang RYM, Chen P (2008) Effect of selective layer thickness on pervaporation of composite poly(vinyl alcohol)–poly(sulfone) membranes. J Membr Sci 318:387–396

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Hashemifard SA, Ismail AF, Matsuura T (2011) Co-casting technique for fabricating dual-layer flat sheet membranes for gas separation. J Membr Sci 375:258–267

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Leob S, Sorirajan S (1962) Sea water demineralization by means of an osmotic membrane. Adv Chem Ser 38:117

    Google Scholar 

  9. Wang KY, Li DF, Chung TS, Chen SB (2004) The observation of elongation dependent macrovoid evolution in single and dual-layer asymmetric hollow fiber membrane. Chem Eng Sci 59:4657–4660

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Li D, Chung T, Ren J, Wang R (2004) Thickness dependence of macrovoid evolution in wet phase-inversion asymmetric membranes. Ind Eng Chem Res 43:1553–1556

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Ren J, Zhou J, Deng M (2005) Morphology transition of asymmetric flat sheet and thickness-gradient membranes by wet phase-inversion process. Desalination 253:1–8

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Vorgin N, Stropnik C, Musil V, Brumen M (2002) The wet phase separation: the effect of cast solution thickness on the appearance of macrovoids in the membrane forming ternary cellulose acetate/acetone/water system. J Membr Sci 207:139

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Stropnik C, Germic L, Zerjal B (1996) Morphology variety and formation mechanisms of polymeric membranes prepared by wet phase inversion. J Appl Polym Sci 61:1821–1830

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Van de Witte P, Dijkstra PJ, van den Berg JWA, Feijen J (1996) Phase behaviour of poly lactides in solvent–nonsolvent mixture. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 44:2553–3568

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Li SG, Boomgaard VD, Smolders CA, Strathmaan H (1996) Physical gelation of amorphous polymers in a matrix of solvent and nonsolvent. Macromolecules 29:2053

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Altena FW, Smolders CA (1982) Calculation of liquid–liquid phase separation in a ternary system of a polymer in a matrix of solvent and nonsolvent. Macromolecules 15:1491

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Broens L, Altena FW, Smolders CA, Koenhen DN (1980) Asymmetric membrane structures as a result of phase separation phenomena. Desalination 32:33

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Cohen C, Tanny GB, Prager S (1979) Diffusion controlled formation of porous structure in ternary polymer system. J Polym Sci 17:477

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Stropnik I, Musil V, Brume M (2000) Polymeric membrane formation by wet-phase separation; turbidity and shrinkage phenomena as evidence for the elementary processes. Polymer 41:9227–9237

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Namvar-Mahboub M, Pakizeh M (2013) Development of a novel thin film composite membrane by interfacial polymerization on polyetherimide/modified SiO2 support for organic solvent nanofiltration. Sep Purif Technol 119:35–45

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Dwivedi M, Alam S, Ghosh AK (2011) Correlation in morphology and thermal behavior of nanoclay-reinforced polyetherimidenanocomposites. J Thermoplast Compos Mater 24:265–280

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Arsuaga JM, Sotto A, del Rosario G, Martinez A, Molina S, Teli SB, de Abajo J (2013) Influence of the type, size, and distribution of metal oxide particles on the properties of nanocomposite ultrafiltration membranes. J Membr Sci 428:131–141

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. Smolders CA, Reuvers AJ, Boom RM, Wienk IM (1992) Microstructures in phase inversion membranes. Part 1: formation of macrovoids. J Membr Sci 73:259

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Kang YS, Kim HJ (1991) Asymmetric membrane formation via immersion precipitation. J Membr Sci 60:219

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Ren J, Zhou J, Lin L, Deng M (2008) Morphology evolution of thickness-gradient membranes prepared by wet phase-inversion process. Sep Purif Technol 63:484–486

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. Ren J, Zhou J, Deng M (2010) Morphology transition of asymmetric polyetherimide flat sheet membranes with different thickness by wet phase-inversion process. Sep Purif Technol 74:119–129

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Wang D, Li K, Teo WK (2002) Preparation of asymmetric polyetherimide hollow fiber membrane with high gas selectivities. J Membr Sci 208:419–426

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Balashova IM, Danner RP, Puri PS, Duda JL (2001) Solubility and diffusivity of solvents and nonsolvents in polysulfone and polyetherimide. Ind Eng Chem Res 40:3058

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. Karimi M, Albrecht W, Heuchel M, Kish MH, Frahn J, Weige Th, Hofmann D, Modarress H, Lendlein A (2005) Determination of water/polymer interaction parameter for membrane-forming systems by sorption measurement and a fitting technique. J Membr Sci 265:1–12

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. Boom RM, van den Boomgard T, van den Berg JWA, Smolders CA (1987) Linearized cloud point curve correlation for ternary systems consisting of one polymer, one solvent and one nonsolvent. Polymer 62:2348

    Google Scholar 

  31. Karimi M, Albrecht W, Heuchel M, Weigel T, Lendlein A (2008) Determination of solvent/polymer interaction parameter of moderately concentrated polymer solutions by vapor pressure osmometry. Polymer 49:2587–2594

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Textile Engineering, Amirkabir University of Technology, 15914, Tehran, Iran

    R. Safi, M. Karimi & A. Madhi

Authors
  1. R. Safi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. M. Karimi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. A. Madhi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to M. Karimi.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Safi, R., Karimi, M. & Madhi, A. Structural transition of asymmetric poly(ether imide) membrane prepared by wet phase inversion. Polym. Bull. 72, 1763–1774 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00289-015-1369-5

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00289-015-1369-5

Keywords

Search

Navigation