Effects of geometry and PVP addition on mechanical behavior of PEI membranes for use in wastewater treatment

This study focuses on the mechanical behavior and design of membrane filters that are used in water and wastewater treatment. The aim of this study is, after characterizing the mechanical behavior of the membrane materials, to find a better shape in terms of mechanical parameters. As the first step, uniaxial tensile testing is applied to the produced polymeric membranes with certain contents of poly(ether imide), poly(vinylpyrrolidone), and N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone to get an understanding of the mechanical behavior of the membrane materials. The material data obtained from this experimental process are used as input to software where a finite element model of the membrane is built. Each geometry has the same boundary conditions and the same area, and the same pressure is applied to each geometry. Using these numerical models, the selected geometries are analyzed in terms of displacement, equivalent stress, and equivalent strain. The results are discussed based on these parameters. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2019, 136, 47073.