The Phase Separation Phenomena of PSf/NMP Solutions in Varying Relative Humidities

Generally, two different techniques have been employed for the precipitation of membranes from a polymer casting solution. In the first method, a precipitant is introduced from a vapor phase. In this case the precipitaion rate is very slow and a more or less symmetric structure is formed. In the second method, a precipitant is added to a casting solution by immersing the cast polymer film in a nonsolvent bath. In this case the precipitation rate is very fast and a skinned asymmetric membrane structure is obtained. In this study, we introduced water-vapor to PSf/NMP solution and took photographs of phase separation phenomena of polymer lean phase.