Effects of the Based Membrane on the Hydrophobicity of Super-hydrophobic PES Membrane and its Structural Properties

Abstract

Polyethersulphone (PES) was a hydrophobilic material. In order to use the Polyethersulphone (PES) membrane on highly hydrophobic membrane separation process, the PES membrane should be improved its hydrophobicity. In this paper, the super-hydrophobic PES membrane was successfully fabricated via sol-gel method. The chemical composition and the physical micro-structure of fabricated PES membrane surface were analyzed by Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectrometers (FTIR), Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) and Atomic Force Microscope (AFM). The results showed that the PES membrane was super-hydrophobic, and its contact angle was 154°. The super-hydrophobic PES membrane has the low surface energy matters and the micro/nano-meter protuberance on the membrane surface. Those micro/nano-meter protuberances on membrane's surface contributed for an rms roughness, which was about 350 nm. From the SEM images of the membrane cross-section, the spongy pores and the finger-like pores were found in cortex and intermediate layer, respectively.