Preparation and properties of PVDF-fabric composite membrane for membrane distillation

The flat sheet PVDF-fabric composite membrane used for membrane distillation was prepared by coating and wet phase inversion process. The composite membrane consisted of a PVDF porous membrane layer and a fabric layer. The thin polyester filament woven fabric with water-and-oil repellent finish was used as the support of composite membrane. The effects of fabric texture, PVDF concentration in casting solution and functional finishing of fabric on the preparation and properties of the composite membrane were investigated. The experimental results showed that fabric texture, PVDF concentration and functional finishing of fabric had great influence on the preparation and properties of the composite membrane. When the PVDF concentration in casting solution was 10–12% and the support fabric, with 435 warps/10 cm and 273 wefts/10 cm and the area weight of 79 g/m2, was finished with 2 g/L water-and-oil repellent agent FK-501, the prepared composite membrane exhibited better performance in tensile strength, peeling strength and water vapor permeability, with mean pore size of 0.63 μm and overall porosity of 57.6%.