Effect of Polymer Molecular Weight on the Structure and Properties of Ultra-High-Molecular-Weight Polyethylene Membranes Prepared via Controlled Swelling

A recently proposed method called "controlled swelling of monolithic films" was implemented to prepare ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) ultrafiltration membranes. For the first time, the effect of UHMWPE molecular weight (MW) on the structure and properties of the membranes prepared via this special case of thermally induced phase separation was studied in detail. The morphology and properties of the membranes were studied using SEM, DSC, liquid-liquid displacement porometry, and standard methods for the evaluation of mechanical properties, permeance, rejection, and abrasion resistance. High-quality membranes with a tensile strength of 5.0-17.8 MPa, a mean pore size of 25-50 nm, permeance of 17-107 L m^-2 h^-1 bar^-1, rejection of model contaminant (blue dextran) of 72-98%, and great abrasion resistance can be prepared only if the MW of the polymer in the initial monolithic film is sufficiently high. The properties of the membranes can effectively be controlled by changing the MW of the polymer and the mass fraction of the latter in the swollen film. Shrinkage is responsible for the variation in the membrane properties. The membranes prepared from a higher-MW polymer are more prone to shrinking after the removal of the solvent. Shrinkage decreases before rising again and minimizes with an increase in the polymer content in the swollen film.