Asymmetric membrane formation via immersion precipitation method. I. Kinetic effect

The kinetic effect of the phase inversion process on the membrane morphology is explored, with emphasis on the diffusion coefficient of the nonsolvent as a measure of the solvent/nonsolvent exchange rate. The diffusion coefficient is closely related to the nonsolvent tolerance of the polymer solution, which was estimated from a pseudo-ternary phase diagram of the following system: polymer: polysulfone; solvent system: a mixture of the solvent 1-methyl-2-pyrrolidinone and a solvent additive (formic acid, water or ethanol); and nonsolvent: ethanol. Regardless of the kind of solvent additive employed, when the diffusion coefficient of the nonsolvent is high for a given gelation medium, then the membrane consists of a smooth, defect-free surface and macrovoid-free cross section, and is highly permeable to oxygen. However, using a polymer solution with a low diffusion coefficient results in a membrane of a rather defective morphology. Therefore, it is concluded that the diffusion coefficient of the nonsolvent is a crucial parameter in controlling membrane morphology.