Formation of mica-intercalated-Nylon 6 nanocomposite membranes by phase inversion method

A novel microporous membrane was synthesized from a polymeric nano-composit e material, mica-intercalated-Nylon 6, by isothermal immersion-precipitatio n in a pure water bath. This novel membrane was skinless and was composed o f cellular pores and sheaf-like crystallites, which interwove into a bi-con tinuous structure. By contrast, pure Nylon 6 precipitated under the same co ndition yielded a skinned asymmetric membrane. Differential scanning calori metry (DSC) analysis of this membrane revealed a slightly higher degree of crystallinity than the nano-composite pellet. In addition, porosity of the membrane was found to increase with increasing water content in the dope. T his was evidenced by the tensile strength and the water permeability measur ements. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.