Investigating the influence of fabrication parameters on the diameter and mechanical properties of polysulfone ultrafiltration hollow-fibre membranes

[摘要] ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Polysulfone hollow-fibre membranes were fabricated via the dry-wet solutionspinning technique. The objective was to demonstrate the influence of the variousfabrication parameters on the diameter and mechanical properties of the hollow-fibremembranes and to optimize the spinning process by controlling these parameters witha computer control system. The effects of the operation parameters were investigatedusing an experimental design based on a fractional factorial method (Taguchi's designof experiments). The parameters that were considered are the spinneret size, dopesolution temperature, bore fluid temperature, coagulation bath temperature, dopeextrusion rate, bore flow rate and the take-up speed. A new pilot solution spinningplant was installed and upgraded, and a computer control system, based on LabView,was developed to control, monitor and log the experimental data. The diameter of thehollow-fibres were determined using a scanning electron microscope (SEM) while themechanical properties were measured using a tensile tester. The effects of diametersize and wall thickness of the hollow-fibres on the performance of the membraneswere studied.The results showed the significance of the fabrication parameters that dominate thediameter and strength of the hollow-fibres.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University