Keywords

Interfaces, Polymer films, Polymers, Precipitation, Viscosity

Abstract

Motivated by the much discussed, yet unexplained, presence of macrovoids in polymer membranes, we explore the impact of Marangoni flows in the process of nonsolvent induced phase separation. Such flows have been hypothesized to be important to the formation of macrovoids, but little quantitative evidence has been produced to date. Using a recently developed multifluid phase field model, we find that roll cells indicative of a solutal Marangoni instability are manifest during solvent/nonsolvent exchange across a stable interface. However, these flows are weak and subsequently do not produce morphological features that might lead to macrovoid formation. By contrast, initial conditions that lead to an immediate precipitation of the polymer film coincide with large Marangoni flows that disturb the interface. The presence of such flows suggests a new experimental and theoretical direction in the search for a macrovoid formation mechanism.

Original Publication Citation

https://doi.org/10.1021/acsmacrolett.8b00012

Document Type

Peer-Reviewed Article

Publication Date

2018-04-27

Permanent URL

http://hdl.lib.byu.edu/1877/8929

Publisher

American Chemical Society

Language

English

College

Ira A. Fulton College of Engineering

Department

Chemical Engineering

University Standing at Time of Publication

Assistant Professor

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