Self-formation of microporous polysulfone hollow fiber using a single nozzle spinneret and reduction of phase-inversion speed

Abstract

This study proposed a simple fabrication technique for microporous hollow fibers whose inner channel was naturally formed because of a slow phase inversion speed. Conventionally, microporous hollow fibers have been fabricated by extruding a polymer solution through the outer nozzle and a bore liquid through the inner nozzle of a dual nozzle spinneret. Injecting a bore liquid played a key role for the formation of a hollow structure. In this study, the self-formation of a hollow structure of microporous fiber was developed using a single nozzle spinneret without a bore liquid. A sharp tip single nozzle spinneret of 200 µm in diameter was fabricated by the wetting effect of a liquid pre-polymer of polydimethylsiloxane, and polysulfone solution was extruded through the prepared single nozzle spinneret. The temperature of the coagulant bath was controlled in order to reduce the speed of phase change, because the phase-change speed depended on the temperature of the coagulant solution. An inner channel in the microporous fiber was successfully fabricated by reducing the phase-change speed and by increasing the solidification speed. The inner diameter of the microporous hollow fiber was decreased as the temperature of the coagulant bath was increased, and eventually the inner channel was not formed at the higher bath temperature rather than 25 °C.