Fabrication Of Composite Membranes For Water Desalination By Electron-Beam Deposition Of A Polytetrafluoroethylene-Like Coating On The Surface Of Track-Etched Membrane

The present paper describes the method for the formation of polymer coatings on the poly(ethylene terephthalate) track-etched membrane surface by electron-beam deposition of polytetrafluoroethylene-like in a vacuum. It is found that the usage of this method leads to substantial hydrophobization of the membrane surface layer. The water contact angle of the deposited coatings changes from 130 degrees to 155 degrees, depending on the coating thickness. This change is due to the development of roughness of the deposited layer having hydrophobic properties. It is shown that the membranes of the developed sample provide a high selectivity of separation and water production rate during desalination of an aqueous salt solution of by air gap membrane distillation process and can be used for desalination of seawater.