Effects of mixed diluent compositions on poly(vinylidene fluoride) membrane morphology in a thermally induced phase-separation process

The effects of a mixed diluent (MD) composition [dibutyl phthalate/dioctyl plithalate (DOP)] on poly (vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) membrane morphology were investigated with scanning electron microscopy, and a bicontinuous morphology could be obtained with MD in a thermally induced phase-separation process. The reasons for the morphology formation were explained according to the effect of MD on the phase diagrams. In addition, the effects of the PVDF concentration on the membrane morphology were examined. For the system with less DOP, the large spherulite morphology was obvious under all investigated concentrations, whereas no large spherulite structure existed in the membrane as the DOP content increased to concentrations other than 20%. (c) 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.