Coarsening Effects on the Formation of Microporous Membranes

The microstructure of polymer membranes produced via thermally induced phase separation (TIPS) of polymer solutions is a strong function of both the early-stage (by spinodal decomposition or nucleation & growth) and the late-stage phase separation (referred to in general as coarsening). In the case of early stage effects, the membrane morphology resulting from a nucleation & growth mechanism is either a poorly interconnecsed, stringy, beady structure which is mechanically fragile or a well interconnected structure with highly nonuniform pore sizes. In contrast, spinodal decomposition results in a well interconnected, mechanically strong membrane with highly uniform pore sizes. Here I describe recent quantitative studies of the coarsening effects on the microstructure of membranes produced via TIPS process. The dependence of microstructure on coarsening time, quench depth, solution viscosity, and polymer molecular weight was investigated in order to distinguish among three possible coarsening mechanisms, Ostwald ripening, coalescence, and hydrodynamic flow, which may be responsible for structural evolution after the early-stage phase Separation (spinodal decomposition or nucleation & growth).