Effect of liquid characteristics on the wetting, capillary migration, and retention properties of fibrous polymer networks

摘要

Fluid penetration through porous networks consists of two different phenomena: (1) pore fluid displacement and (2) fluid flow through the pores. The first phenomenon depends on the pore size, the fluid-fluid interfacial tension, and the contact angle. The second phenomenon is pore-size- and viscosity-dependent. We adapted an experimental methodology often used for measurements of liquid permeability and hydraulic conductivity of soils and applied it to polymeric medical textiles. The methodology made use of a pressure/flow cell in which a sample was mounted. The flow rates were measured during sequences of increasing and decreasing pressures applied to the displacing nonwetting fluid (aqueous solution). The effects of the liquid parameters on penetration were investigated. Surface tension effects were studied with water and two solutions with surface tensions lower than that of pure water; the liquids with lower surface tensions had lower displacement pressures. To study viscosity effects, we used water and two solutions with viscosities higher than that of pure water. Increasing the viscosity not only caused the flow rate to decrease but also caused deformation, that is, enlargement, of the pores. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 97: 282-292, 2005.