GS24 Tensile deformation behavior of porous polymer membrane
Details
The tensile deformation behavior of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) hollow fiber membranes was studied. The present PTFE membrane has sub-micron pores with open cell structure, which plays a critical role of water purification. One of the main challenges of water purification is that the pore structure is covered with biofouling, leading to blocking pores. To maintain the ability of water purification, physical cleaning along with mechanically deformation is usually conducted. Thus, it is crucial to understand the mechanical properties, in particular the deformation behavior of the membrane fibers. Using uniaxial tension experiments, we established a finite element model in order to describe the deformation behavior of porous structure. The present model enables the prediction of the macroscopic deformation behavior of the membrane by taking into account the changes of pore structure. The result may be useful for the fabrication of porous membrane and provide insights for reliable operation of water purification.
