- Polypropylene membranes with deposited ultrathin "siin" layers are attractive for separation and cleaning of gaseous mixtures. In the present study, the surface morphology and wetting hysteresis of composite membranes consisting of a microporous polypropylene support and Langmuir-Blodgett ("skin") films, are investigated. The effect of the interlayer molecular interactions and the substrate features on the integrity and homogeneity of the "skin" layers is examined. Langmuir-Blodgett films of arachidic acid and cadmium and calcium arachidate are characterized both on smooth silicon and on porous polypropylene supports. Contact angle measurements and scanning force microscopy (SFM) are applied for investigations of the membrane surface modification upon transfer of a different number of monolayers. It was found that the contact angle hysteresis of the bare membrane decreases after the LB-deposition of close-packed monolayers. Smoothing of the membrane surface is also evidenced by the SFM images, on different length scales, confirming aPolypropylene membranes with deposited ultrathin "siin" layers are attractive for separation and cleaning of gaseous mixtures. In the present study, the surface morphology and wetting hysteresis of composite membranes consisting of a microporous polypropylene support and Langmuir-Blodgett ("skin") films, are investigated. The effect of the interlayer molecular interactions and the substrate features on the integrity and homogeneity of the "skin" layers is examined. Langmuir-Blodgett films of arachidic acid and cadmium and calcium arachidate are characterized both on smooth silicon and on porous polypropylene supports. Contact angle measurements and scanning force microscopy (SFM) are applied for investigations of the membrane surface modification upon transfer of a different number of monolayers. It was found that the contact angle hysteresis of the bare membrane decreases after the LB-deposition of close-packed monolayers. Smoothing of the membrane surface is also evidenced by the SFM images, on different length scales, confirming a good coverage of the membrane pores.…
