New Insights into the Mechanical Behavior of Thin-Film Composite Polymeric Membranes

Limited predictions of thin-film composite (TFC) membranes’ behavior and functional life exist due to the lack of accurate data on their mechanical behavior under different operational conditions. A comprehensive investigation of the mechanical behavior of TFC membranes addressing deformation and fa...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Fatima Ghassan Alabtah, Abedalkader Alkhouzaam, Marwan Khraisheh
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2022-11-01
Series:Polymers
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/14/21/4657
_version_ 1797466659548561408
author Fatima Ghassan Alabtah
Abedalkader Alkhouzaam
Marwan Khraisheh
author_facet Fatima Ghassan Alabtah
Abedalkader Alkhouzaam
Marwan Khraisheh
author_sort Fatima Ghassan Alabtah
collection DOAJ
description Limited predictions of thin-film composite (TFC) membranes’ behavior and functional life exist due to the lack of accurate data on their mechanical behavior under different operational conditions. A comprehensive investigation of the mechanical behavior of TFC membranes addressing deformation and failure, temperature and strain rate sensitivity, and anisotropy is presented. Tensile tests were conducted on commercial membranes as well as on individual membrane layers prepared in our laboratories. The results reveal the overall mechanical strength of the membrane is provided by the polyester layer (bottom layer), while the rupture stress for the middle and top layers is at least 10 times smaller than that of the polyester layer. High anisotropic behavior was observed and is attributed to the nonwoven structure of the polyester layer. Rupture stress in the transverse (90°) direction was one-third of the rupture stress in the casting direction. Limited temperature and strain rate dependence was observed in the temperature range that exists during operation. Scanning electron microscopy images of the fractured surfaces were also analyzed and correlated with the mechanical behavior. The presented results provide new insights into the mechanical behavior of thin-film composite membranes and can be used to inform novel membrane designs and fabrication techniques.
first_indexed 2024-03-09T18:42:51Z
format Article
id doaj.art-3b70a12c9a304879989b90779e360499
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 2073-4360
language English
last_indexed 2024-03-09T18:42:51Z
publishDate 2022-11-01
publisher MDPI AG
record_format Article
series Polymers
spelling doaj.art-3b70a12c9a304879989b90779e3604992023-11-24T06:29:46ZengMDPI AGPolymers2073-43602022-11-011421465710.3390/polym14214657New Insights into the Mechanical Behavior of Thin-Film Composite Polymeric MembranesFatima Ghassan Alabtah0Abedalkader Alkhouzaam1Marwan Khraisheh2Mechanical Engineering Program, Texas A&M University at Qatar, Doha 23874, QatarMechanical Engineering Program, Texas A&M University at Qatar, Doha 23874, QatarMechanical Engineering Program, Texas A&M University at Qatar, Doha 23874, QatarLimited predictions of thin-film composite (TFC) membranes’ behavior and functional life exist due to the lack of accurate data on their mechanical behavior under different operational conditions. A comprehensive investigation of the mechanical behavior of TFC membranes addressing deformation and failure, temperature and strain rate sensitivity, and anisotropy is presented. Tensile tests were conducted on commercial membranes as well as on individual membrane layers prepared in our laboratories. The results reveal the overall mechanical strength of the membrane is provided by the polyester layer (bottom layer), while the rupture stress for the middle and top layers is at least 10 times smaller than that of the polyester layer. High anisotropic behavior was observed and is attributed to the nonwoven structure of the polyester layer. Rupture stress in the transverse (90°) direction was one-third of the rupture stress in the casting direction. Limited temperature and strain rate dependence was observed in the temperature range that exists during operation. Scanning electron microscopy images of the fractured surfaces were also analyzed and correlated with the mechanical behavior. The presented results provide new insights into the mechanical behavior of thin-film composite membranes and can be used to inform novel membrane designs and fabrication techniques.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/14/21/4657thin-film compositespolymeric membranesmechanical behaviorlayer-by-layer analysis
spellingShingle Fatima Ghassan Alabtah
Abedalkader Alkhouzaam
Marwan Khraisheh
New Insights into the Mechanical Behavior of Thin-Film Composite Polymeric Membranes
Polymers
thin-film composites
polymeric membranes
mechanical behavior
layer-by-layer analysis
title New Insights into the Mechanical Behavior of Thin-Film Composite Polymeric Membranes
title_full New Insights into the Mechanical Behavior of Thin-Film Composite Polymeric Membranes
title_fullStr New Insights into the Mechanical Behavior of Thin-Film Composite Polymeric Membranes
title_full_unstemmed New Insights into the Mechanical Behavior of Thin-Film Composite Polymeric Membranes
title_short New Insights into the Mechanical Behavior of Thin-Film Composite Polymeric Membranes
title_sort new insights into the mechanical behavior of thin film composite polymeric membranes
topic thin-film composites
polymeric membranes
mechanical behavior
layer-by-layer analysis
url https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/14/21/4657
work_keys_str_mv AT fatimaghassanalabtah newinsightsintothemechanicalbehaviorofthinfilmcompositepolymericmembranes
AT abedalkaderalkhouzaam newinsightsintothemechanicalbehaviorofthinfilmcompositepolymericmembranes
AT marwankhraisheh newinsightsintothemechanicalbehaviorofthinfilmcompositepolymericmembranes