Facile synthesis of highly ordered through-micro-porous polyethylene microfiltration membrane via micro-casting

A polyethylene (PE) microfiltration membrane with highly ordered and identical straight through-pore microstructure was facilely synthesized via micro-casting. Initially, through embedding the micropillars of silicon micropillar template into a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) layer under a press force, we built a micropillar mold cavity (MPMC) and infiltrated PE melt into the cavity by submerging the MPMC into the melt to perforate the PE thin film. Then after a release of the PDMS layer, the solidified PE membrane was peeled off from the template. We synthesized membranes with different thicknesses from tailored MPMCs constructed under various press forces, and achieved a perfect peeling off without damage belonging to the thickness of 11 ± 0.3 μm due to its small peeling force. Water filtration experiment demonstrated membrane's functional performance on separation.