High-density polyethylene (HDPE) hollow fiber membrane via thermally induced phase separation. I. Phase separation behaviors of HDPE-liquid paraffin (LP) blends and its influence on the morphology of the membrane

Phase separation behaviors of the blends that consist of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) and LP was investigated by means of thermal analysis. The miscibility of the two components was evaluated in terms of the Flory-Huggins interaction parameter, determined from the Hoffman-Weeks plot, gave a value of 0.36. This leads us to a conclusion that this blend system is applicable to the preparation of microporous hollow fiber membrane by melt spinning of the blend. The homogeneous blends in the molten state become heterogeneous systems to yield microporous HDPE membranes in the course of cooling due to thermally induced phase separation. The influence of the phase separation on the membrane morphology was also discussed. (C) 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.