Porosity-dependent Young's modulus of membranes from polyetherether ketone

The porosity-dependent Young's modulus for PEEK membranes was determined and the data compared to several empirical and semiempirical equations often applied to porous systems. The Spriggs equation, Wang's approximation, Sudduth's equation, and the foam modulus-density relationship were all tested against the data. The relatively wide range of porosities tested in these experiments shows the Spriggs equation to be inadequate to fitting the data, especially above 50% porosity where the Young's modulus decreases rapidly. Wang's approximation to second order fitted the data well, and the porosity-modulus relations had non-negative coefficients as required and consistent with the ceramic data obtained by others. The data also fitted Sudduth's equations, usually applied to sintered ceramics, but equivalently good fits were obtained with nonunique fitting parameters. The foam modulus-density relationship fitted the data for foamlike membranes but fitted less well to nonfoam morphology membranes. Finally, the data were used to determine the range of porosities and hollow fiber dimensions necessary for microfiltration and composite membrane application. (C) 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.