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Preparation of crosslinked membranes with controlled pore size distribution
Author(s) -
Fujita Sharon M.,
Soane David S.
Publication year - 1988
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.760280602
Subject(s) - divinylbenzene , membrane , materials science , styrene , polystyrene , chemical engineering , solvent , polymer chemistry , copolymer , monomer , membrane emulsification , substrate (aquarium) , porosity , coating , phase (matter) , composite material , organic chemistry , polymer , chemistry , biochemistry , oceanography , engineering , geology
A technique has been developed to prepare crosslinked, porous/asymmetric membranes from poly(styrene‐co‐divinylbenzene). Mixtures of styrene monomer, divinylbenzene, benzoin (a photo‐initiator), and some dead polystyrene are dissolved in a cosolvent and cast on a flat, transparent substrate. The coating is then irradiated with a UV lamp and subsequently phase separated by exposure to a nonsolvent bath. Pores are generated by phase separation induced by nonsolvent ingression. Crosslinking is achieved via the photo‐initiated incorporation of divinylbenzene with styrene, while the membrane morphology evolves. A mechanism for the formation of crosslinked membranes prepared by this technique has been proposed. Experimental results systematically examine the effects of crosslinking and nonsolvent/solvent combinations on pore size and overall membrane structure. Temperature and solvent treatments on the finished membrane structure are also studied.