Abstract
The formation of an integral asymmetric membrane composed of a cylinder-forming polystyrene-block-poly(2-vinylpyridine) on a nonwoven by using solvent casting followed by solvent/nonsolvent exchange (phase inversion) is reported for the first time. The influence of parameters such as solvent composition, evaporation time of the solution-cast block copolymer film before phase inversion, and immersion bath temperature is demonstrated. The optimized membranes are characterized in terms of stimuli-responsive water flux properties. The morphologies of the membranes as well as of the bulk of the block copolymer are imaged by scanning force microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy.
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