Structure Formation of Integral Asymmetric Composite Membranes of Polystyrene‐block‐Poly(2‐vinylpyridine) on a Nonwoven

Abstract

The formation of an integral asymmetric membrane composed of a cylinder‐forming polystyrene‐block‐poly(2‐vinylpyridine) on a nonwoven by using solvent casting followed by solvent/nonsolvent exchange (phase inversion) is reported for the first time. The influence of parameters such as solvent composition, evaporation time of the solution‐cast block copolymer film before phase inversion, and immersion bath temperature is demonstrated. The optimized membranes are characterized in terms of stimuli‐responsive water flux properties. The morphologies of the membranes as well as of the bulk of the block copolymer are imaged by scanning force microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy.

Morphology and elasticity of polystyrene-block-polyisoprene diblock copolymers in the melt

“…Well-ordered block copolymers with defined microstructures have been developed for a wide range of industrial applications such as toughening using thermoplastic elastomers, membranes, high density magnetic recording devices, polymer foams and nanolithography (Park et al (2003); Jung et al (2012); Kryder (1992); Harrison et al (2000)). Topological defects often hamper a long-range order of the morphology.…”

Ionic liquids supported by isoporous membranes for CO2/N2 gas separation applications

“…Jung et al [24] present evidence that tortoise channels can hinder the permeation. They established that the Hagen-Poiseuille equation is not applicable directly for the water flow through the pores of isoporous PS-b-P2VP membranes because the spongy substructure is causing a deviation from ideal behavior.…”

“…A primary aspect of isoporous block copolymer based membranes is their very regular surface porosity which leads to a highly efficient separation in filtration because of their very good discriminatory power. Due to their self-organization behavior PS-b-P4VP ultrafiltration membranes offer highly regular structures both in pore diameter [22] and length, parameters which can be adjusted according to the separation requirement [23][24][25][26].…”

Mesoporous monoliths of inverse bicontinuous cubic phases of block copolymer bilayers

“…Peinemann, Abetz, and others 14,[26][27][28][29][30][31] reported the synthesis of 3D porous polymers by non-solvent-induced phase separation of BCPs, which gives an integral asymmetric membrane with a highly ordered thin layer on top of a non-ordered sponge-like layer. Recently, Wiesner and co-workers 13,17 developed SIM 2 PLE (spinodal-decomposition-induced macro-and mesophases separation plus extraction by rinsing) method based on the phase separation of BCPs and spinodal decomposition between BCPs and oligomeric additives, rendering the resulting structures to be hierarchically porous polymer monoliths composed of ordered mesopores and randomly distributed macropores.…”