Ebook: Synthetic Polymeric Membranes: Characterization by Atomic Force Microscopy

Tis book concentrates on atomic force microscopy (AFM), a method recently - veloped to study the surfaces of synthetic polymeric membranes. AFM is becoming a very important tool for the characterization of synthetic polymeric membranes. Te development of membranes of improved performance depends on the exact kn- ledge of the morphology of a thin selective layer that exists at the surface of the m- brane. Te control of the morphology of the selective layer is crucial for the design of synthetic polymeric membranes. With a relatively short history of only twen- ?ve years, AFM has ?rmly established its position as a method to characterize the membrane surface. Each chapter of this book includes information on basic principles, commercial applications, current research, and guidelines for future research. Each chapter is summarized at the end and contains a comprehensive list of references. Te introductory chapter gives a brief overview of synthetic polymeric m- branes and their applications both in industrial processes and in biomedical ?elds. It also gives an overview of studies on membrane surface morphology by various methods. Chapter ? deals with the synthesis of membranes, the properties of membranes, and the application of membranes. Te beginning also identi?es the three types of membranes (i.e., biological, synthetic, and theoretical) and their applications.

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This book concentrates on the method recently developed to study the surfaces of synthetic polymeric membranes using an Atomic Force Microscope (AFM). AFM is becoming a very important tool for the characterization of synthetic polymeric membranes. The development of membranes for improved performance depends on the exact knowledge of the morphology of a thin selective layer that exists at the surface of the membrane. The control of the morphology of the selective layer is crucial for the design of synthetic polymeric membranes. With a relatively short history of twenty-five years, AFM has firmly established its position as a means of characterizing the membrane surface.Each chapter includes information on the basic principles, commercial applications, an overview of current research and guidelines for future research. Each also includes a summary and comprehensive list of references. The book covers all aspects of AFM studies on the characterization of synthetic polymeric membranes.This book is well-suited for academic researchers who are investigating synthetic membranes, as well as R&D staff who wish to improve and control the quality of synthetic membranes for various purposes, and is also of interest to a wider range of readers, as synthetic membranes are now considered to be one of the most important tools in the areas of seawater desalination, waste-water treatment, water production, food processing, treatment of pharmaceutical products, air and water purification, separation of chemical and petrochemical products, drug release and other biomedical applications.