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Mechanism of formation of fluted void superstructures in the coagulation of wet spun fibers and application to membranes
Author(s) -
Hancock Tony A.,
White James L.,
Spruiell Joseph E.
Publication year - 1980
Publication title -
polymer engineering and science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.503
H-Index - 111
eISSN - 1548-2634
pISSN - 0032-3888
DOI - 10.1002/pen.760201703
Subject(s) - materials science , void (composites) , spinning , instability , membrane , composite material , marangoni effect , polymer , coagulation , chemical physics , thermodynamics , mechanics , surface tension , chemistry , biochemistry , physics , psychology , psychiatry
An experimental study is reported of the origins of fluted void structures in wet spun fibers. Optical microscopy studies of the interaction of spinning solutions and coagulating bath liquids suggest these voids originate in a fingering phenomenon occurring at the interface. Further studies show that this fingering effect is generally independent of the presence of the polymer and dependent on the two low molecular weight liquids alone. In the systems investigated it is found that the occurrence of the fingering is associated with a critical value of the heat of solution. It is argued that the fingering and associated fluted void structures in wet spun fibers are due to a “Thomson‐Marangoni” type interfacial instability. This can be justified using the theory of hydrodynamic stability. Fluted void structures produced in asymmetric membranes probably have a similar origin.