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Investigation of membrane preparation condition effect on the PSD and porosity of the membranes using a novel image processing technique
Author(s) -
Sharak Ashkan Zolfaghari,
Samimi Armin,
Mousavi Seyyed Abbas,
Bozarjamhari Ramin Bozorgmehri
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
journal of applied polymer science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.575
H-Index - 166
eISSN - 1097-4628
pISSN - 0021-8995
DOI - 10.1002/app.39899
Subject(s) - membrane , ultimate tensile strength , polysulfone , materials science , porosity , solvent , composite material , chemical engineering , polymer chemistry , polymer , chemistry , organic chemistry , biochemistry , engineering
A totally computerized image processing program package is developed to analyze the SEM images of membrane surface and cross‐section. Pore size distribution and porosity of the fabricated membranes are determined using the proposed image processing procedure. Furthermore, effect of coagulation bath temperature on the morphology and mechanical properties (such as tensile strength, strain break, tensile energy absorbent, and tensile stiffness) of Polysulfone (PSf) membranes are investigated. The results reveal that the mechanical properties are higher when N ‐methyl‐2‐pyrrolidone (NMP) is used as solvent. Also, an increase in the coagulation bath temperature caused a monotonous increase in the mean pore size value of Dimethylformamide (DMF)‐based membranes. However, mean pore size curve has a maximum when NMP is used as solvent. Also, porosity of the fabricated membranes increased when coagulation bath temperature increased. For the NMP‐base membranes, pore's diameter was in the range of 0–5 μm. However, DMF‐based membranes have pore size value of smaller than 1 μm when the precipitation medium is kept at 8°C. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2014 , 131 , 39899.