Polysulfone hollow fibers. II. Morphology

Abstract

Abstract The morphology of porous polysulfone hollow fibers which were spun by the dry–wet spinning process is discussed. It was demonstrated that a relatively moderate quenching medium should be employed in the bore of the nascent fiber in order to produce an isotropic fiber free of macrovoids and intrusion cells. A rather delicate quantitative balance between the internal precipitant and the spinning solution has to be maintained, especially when low‐viscosity polymeric solutions are employed. Scanning electron micrographs of fiber cross sections display highly porous, spongestructured walls which in some instances exhibit a rather dense interface skin. However, control of the extrusion/coagulation procedure allows the formation of skinned, porous skinned, and nonskinned fibers.