Influence of Thermal Effects on the Transport Characteristics of Cellulose Acetate Porous Films

Abstract

Experimental data have been obtained, and the characteristics of the moisture content and permeability of cellulose acetate porous materials were analyzed via thermal action. Dynamic thermogravimetric analysis found that the destruction process in an air-dry sample of the membrane begins at 21°C. It is accompanied by a 2% weight loss and an endothermic effect. The destruction ends at 50°C. With a subsequent increase in temperature, the manifestation of endothermic effect continues a temperature of 120–175°C with the maximum rate of mass loss at 146°C. The weight loss ends at about 190°C and is 6.5%. The study of MGA-80 and MGA-95 porous cellulose acetate films at transmembrane pressure upon temperature exposure showed that the permeability and specific output flow to water increase as the temperature rises to 50°C. Analysis of dependences of the specific output flow on temperature revealed that the specific output flow to water increases by ~18% upon an initial temperature rise of 10°C. This is due to structural changes in the cellulose acetate layer. A further increase in temperature by 15°C leads to an increase in permeability by ~10%. These phenomena are associated with the process of structural transformation in the active layer and the polymer substrate of the MGA-95 and MGA-80P membranes, respectively.