EFFECT OF PLASMA TREATMENT ON STRUCTURE AND PROPERTIES OF TRACK MEMBRANES

摘要

An investigation of the properties of poly(ethylene) terephthalate (PET) track membranes (TM) treated with a plasma RF-discharge has been performed. The influence of the plasma treatment conditions on the basic properties of the membranes has been studied. It was arranged that the effect of non-polymerizing gases plasma on the TMs results to etching a membrane's surface layer. The membranes' pore size and the form in this case change. It is shown that it is possible to change the structure of track membranes directly by gas-discharge etching. Depending on the choice of discharge parameters, it is possible to achieve etching conditions either in a part of the channel or along the whole length of the pore channels. In both cases membranes with asymmetric pore shapes are formed which possess higher porosity and flow rate. It is shown that the introducing of polymerizing gas - cyclohexane into the composition of plasma-forming gas provides improved hydrodynamic properties of asymmetric membranes.