Development of Inorganic Particle-Filled Polypropylene/High Density Polyethylene Membranes via Multilayer...

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Polymer Science
• Membrane Technology

Background:

• Multilayer membranes are crucial in various applications.
• Understanding filler effects on membrane morphology and properties is essential for optimization.
• Polypropylene (PP) and high-density polyethylene (HDPE) are common polymers used in membrane fabrication.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the impact of calcium carbonate and talc fillers on the morphology and properties of PP/HDPE multilayer porous membranes.
• To analyze how fillers influence the crystalline orientation and pore structure of the membranes.
• To evaluate the effect of filler content on membrane performance, including air permeance, thermal stability, and mechanical strength.

Main Methods:

• Preparation of multilayer PP/HDPE membranes using the Melt-Extrusion, Annealing and Uniaxial Stretching (MEAUS) process.
• Incorporation of mineral fillers (calcium carbonate and talc) into the polymer matrix.
• Characterization of membrane morphology, crystalline structure, and physical properties.

Main Results:

• Fillers, particularly talc, significantly increased the porous surface area and air permeance of the membranes.
• A synergistic effect was observed, leading to enhanced pore generation due to filler debonding during stretching.
• The addition of fillers improved the thermal stability, stiffness, and strength of the PP/HDPE membranes.
• Talc demonstrated higher efficiency in creating porous surfaces compared to calcium carbonate.

Conclusions:

• Mineral fillers are effective in enhancing the properties of multilayer PP/HDPE porous membranes.
• The MEAUS process combined with fillers offers a viable route to produce high-performance porous membranes.
• Filler selection and content are critical parameters for tailoring membrane properties for specific applications.