In this work composite hollow-fibers were prepared by dip-coating of commercial polypropylene (PP) with a thin layer of ethylene-chlorotrifluoroethylene copolymer (ECTFE). The employment of N-methyl pyrrolidone (NMP) as solvent improved the polymer processability favoring dip-coating at lower temperature (135 °C). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analyses showed that after dip-coating the PP support maintained its microstructure, whereas a thin coated layer of ECTFE on the external surface of the PP hollow-fiber was clearly distinguishable. Membrane characterization evidenced the effects of the concentration of ECTFE in the dope-solution and the time of dip-coating on the thickness of ECTFE layer and membrane properties (i.e., contact angle and pore size). ECTFE coating decreased the surface roughness reducing, as a consequence, the hydrophobicity of the membrane. Moreover, increasing the ECTFE concentration and dip-coating time enabled the preparation of a thicker layer of ECTFE with low and narrow pore size that negatively affected the water transport. On the basis of the superior chemical resistance of ECTFE, ECTFE/PP composite hollow fibers could be considered as very promising candidates to be employed in membrane processes involving harsh conditions.

Development of novel ECTFE coated PP composite hollow-fiber membranes

Santoro S.;Drioli E.;Figoli A.
2016-01-01

Abstract

In this work composite hollow-fibers were prepared by dip-coating of commercial polypropylene (PP) with a thin layer of ethylene-chlorotrifluoroethylene copolymer (ECTFE). The employment of N-methyl pyrrolidone (NMP) as solvent improved the polymer processability favoring dip-coating at lower temperature (135 °C). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analyses showed that after dip-coating the PP support maintained its microstructure, whereas a thin coated layer of ECTFE on the external surface of the PP hollow-fiber was clearly distinguishable. Membrane characterization evidenced the effects of the concentration of ECTFE in the dope-solution and the time of dip-coating on the thickness of ECTFE layer and membrane properties (i.e., contact angle and pore size). ECTFE coating decreased the surface roughness reducing, as a consequence, the hydrophobicity of the membrane. Moreover, increasing the ECTFE concentration and dip-coating time enabled the preparation of a thicker layer of ECTFE with low and narrow pore size that negatively affected the water transport. On the basis of the superior chemical resistance of ECTFE, ECTFE/PP composite hollow fibers could be considered as very promising candidates to be employed in membrane processes involving harsh conditions.
2016
Composite membranes; Dip-coating; Ethylene-chlorotrifluoroethlyene; Hollow-fibers; Thermal induced phase separation technique (TIPS)
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11770/311000
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