Gas transport properties of cellular hollow fiber membranes based on LLDPE/LDPE blends. Issue 3 (May 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Razzaz, Zahir; Mohebbi, Abolfazl; Rodrigue, Denis
• Is Part Of: Cellular polymers. Volume 40:Issue 3(2021)
• Page Start: 119
• Page End: 140
• Publication Date: 2021-05
• Subjects: Polyethylene -- blends -- extrusion -- cellular structure -- gas separation; Plastic foams -- Periodicals; Foam rubber -- Periodicals; 620.192
• DOI: 10.1177/0262489320929300
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0262-4893

Abstract

The production of foamed hollow fiber membranes (HFMs) is presented based on polymer blends using various concentrations of linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE) and low-density polyethylene (LPDE) combined with azodicarbonamide (chemical blowing agent) to prepare samples via twin-screw extrusion. In particular, the blowing agent concentration as well as the stretching speed were found to be the most important parameters to achieve a good cellular structure for membrane application. From the samples obtained, a complete set of morphological, thermal, and gas transport characterization was performed. The results show that LLDPE/LDPE blends compared to neat LLDPE lead to higher cell density at high stretching speed, which is appropriate for membranes having higher gas permeability and selectivity due to lower cell wall thickness. The results also show that the developed cellular structure has high potential for the continuous production of HFMs for different gas separation, especially for hydrogen recovery.