Journal
POLYMER TESTING
Volume 34, Issue -, Pages 202-210Publisher
ELSEVIER SCI LTD
DOI: 10.1016/j.polymertesting.2014.01.014
Keywords
Glass transition; Membranes; Mechanical properties; Morphology; Thermal properties
Funding
- University of Johannesburg
- ESKOM
- DST/Mintek Nanotechnology Innovation Centre
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This paper reports on the effects of lignin, polyvinyl pyrrolidone and polyethylene glycol as additives to polysulfone ultrafiltration membranes prepared by nonsolvent induced phase separation. The focus is on the mechanical and thermal properties of the resultant membranes. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetric analysis were used to probe the thermal properties, while an Instron tensile tester was used to characterise the mechanical properties. Morphological studies indicate that the porosity of the bottom sub-layer increased with the use of each additive, suggesting that coagulation in the sub-layer differed from that of the top layer. Membranes fabricated using lignin were thermally stable as the residue at 800 degrees C increased from 13% to 44%, suggesting interaction of lignin with the polymer. The increase in free fractional volume was confirmed by DSC thermograms as the glass transition temperature decreased considerably after incorporating the additives. Generally, the modulus and tensile strength decreased after the introduction of the additives. These results offer new insight into the use of an emerging, cheap and readily available natural additive (lignin) compared to traditional synthetic additives in membrane formation. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
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