PORE-SIZE DISTRIBUTIONS IN MICROPOROUS MEMBRANES .2. BULK CHARACTERIZATION OF TRACK-ETCHED FILTERS BY AIR POROMETRY AND MERCURY POROSIMETRY

The structure and morphology of several Cyclopore filters, consisting of thin track-etched sheets of polycarbonate, is analyzed here through an extended bubble point method and mercury intrusion porometry. Rele vant morphological parameters have been studied for six types of filte rs (C01, C02, C04, C06, C08, and C10). The bulk pore size distribution s are directly obtained for each filter. The statistical distributions are studied thoroughly and those obtained from both methods are compa red. Specific surface areas are also obtained from both methods and co mpared with those directly measured in BET experiments with fair agree ment. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and computerized image analys is (CIA) were previously used to characterize and analyze the surface pore size distributions. They are also compared with those obtained he re, confirming the previous assumption of inner widenings in the pores . (C) 1995 Academic Press, Inc.