Electrospun Nnaofibers on a Support Layer of Asymmetric Polysulfone (PSf) Membrane

In this study, a composite membrane composed of polystyrene (PS) nanofibers on an asymmetric polysulfone (PSf) membrane was prepared. The membrane was made from polysulfone/ N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone/ N,N-dimethylformamide (PSf/NMP/DMF) solution system via phase inversion induced by immersion precipitation in a water coagulation bath at room temperature. The effect of the polymer concentration and solvent kind on the morphology of resulting asymmetric PSf membrane was investigated. The results showed that increasing the concentration of PSf in casting solution resulted in formation of a thick dense top layer. On the other hand, increasing the DMF portion in the solvent mixture resulted in membranes with sponglike morphology. Thereafter, a mat of polystyrene (PS) nanofibers prepared via electrospinning covered the top layer of the PSf substrate

Keywords:

Polysulfone , Composite membrane , phase inversion , electrospinning , nanofibers