PDMS/PVDF microporous membrane with semi-interpenetrating polymer networks for vacuum membrane distillation

In this article, using the non-solvent induced phase separation process, a new microporous membrane with the semi-interpenetrating polymer network (semi-IPN) structure was produced. For this membrane, polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) polymer is crosslinking and poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) polymer is linear, by changing the mass ratio of PDMS/PVDF, the structure and the performance of the prepared membranes were studied. The membranes were also investigated by attenuated total reflection-Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR), scanning electron microscopy–energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetric analysis, and water contact angle, etc. ATR-FTIR spectroscopy confirmed the formation of semi-IPN; compared with the PDMS/PVDF polymer without semi-IPNs structure, the viscosity of the semi-IPNs structured casting solution increased, membrane mechanical property increased but its hydrophobicity decreased. Using the resulting membranes for the vacuum membrane distillation desalt of the NaCl solution (30 g/L), 99.9% salt rejection and reasonable flux were obtained. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2017, 135, 45792.