Membrane surface hydrophobicity through electro-hydrodynamic film patterning
A method of creating a hydrophobic polymer membrane surface includes depositing a polymer material onto a heated carrier, using the heated carrier, transporting the polymer material past an electrode field generator, generating an electric field adjacent the carrier, using the electric field to form a pattern in the polymer material to form a patterned polymer membrane, rinsing the patterned polymer membrane in a first bath, and setting the pattern into the patterned polymer membrane in a second bath.
1. A method of creating a hydrophobic polymer membrane surface, comprising:
depositing a polymer material onto a heated carrier;
using the heated carrier, transporting the polymer material past an electrode field generator;
generating an electric field adjacent the carrier;
using the electric field to form a pattern in the polymer material to form a patterned polymer membrane;
rinsing the patterned polymer membrane in a first bath; and
setting the pattern into the patterned polymer membrane in a second bath.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein depositing the polymer material onto a heated carrier comprises depositing the polymer material onto a heated carrier belt.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein transporting the polymer material past an electric field generator comprises transporting the polymer material past an electrode belt.
4. The method of claim 3 , wherein generating an electric field adjacent the carrier comprises generating an electric field adjacent the electrode belt.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein using the electric field to form the pattern comprises using the electric field to transfer a pattern from the carrier belt to the polymer material.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein rinsing the patterned polymer membrane comprises immersing the patterned polymer membrane in a non-solvent that removes a solvent from the patterned polymer membrane.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein setting the pattern comprises setting the pattern in a bath selected to gelatinize the patterned polymer membrane to set the pattern.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein depositing the polymer material comprises depositing one of either a slurry or a liquid.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein using the electric field to form the pattern comprises using the electric field to form the pattern at of one of micro-scale or nano-scale.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein using the electric field to form the pattern comprises using the electric field to form a periodic pattern of one of pillars or posts.
11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the pillars or posts have one of a rectangular, circular, or square cross-section.
12. A method of creating a hydrophobic polymer membrane surface, comprising:
depositing a polymer material onto a heated carrier belt;
using the heated carrier belt, transporting the polymer past an electrode having a patterned electric field;
using the patterned electric field to form a pattern in the polymer membrane surface to form a patterned polymer membrane;
rinsing the patterned polymer membrane in a first bath; and
setting the pattern into the patterned polymer membrane in a second bath.
13. The method of claim 12 , wherein rinsing the patterned polymer membrane comprises immersing the patterned polymer membrane in a non-solvent that removes a solvent from the patterned polymer membrane.
14. The method of claim 12 , wherein setting the pattern comprises setting the pattern in a bath selected to gelatinize the patterned polymer membrane.
15. The method of claim 12 , wherein depositing the polymer material comprises depositing one of either a slurry or a liquid.
16. The method of claim 12 , wherein using the electric field to form the pattern comprises using the electric field to form a periodic pattern of one of pillars or posts.
17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the pillars or posts have one of a rectangular, circular, or square cross-section.