Fabrication of hydrophilic and sponge-like PVDF/brush-like copolymer blend membranes using triethylphosphate as solvent

Porous PVDF blend membranes with good hydrophilicity and a symmetric structure were prepared by the phase inversion method using amphiphilic brush-like copolymers, P(MMA-r-PEGMA), as hydrophilic additive and triethylphosphate (TEP) as solvent. P(MMA-r-PEGMA) was synthesized by radical polymerization in TEP. Then the obtained amphiphilic copolymer solution was mixed with PVDF and TEP to prepare the dope solution. The effects of P(MMA-r-PEGMA) content and coagulation composition on membrane morphologies were investigated using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results demonstrated that, even blended with amphiphilic copolymers, a symmetric structure can be formed. Hollow fiber membranes with a mainly symmetric structure were also fabricated. The dry hollow fiber membranes showed good hydrophilicity, high flux and good rejection performance because of their hydrophilic surface and pores wall.