Characterization of functionalized zirconia membranes manufactured by aqueous tape casting

In this study, porous zirconia membranes were developed by aqueous tape casting. The influence of poly (methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) as a pore former, and sintering temperatures (1300, 1400, and 1500 °C) on open porosity and pore size was investigated. The rheological behaviour of the suspensions was measured. The slurries showed pseudoplastic behavior, which is desirable for tape casting. Functionalization with an amino silane precursor (3- aminopropyl triethoxysilane, APTES) was carried out to increase the hydrophilic properties of the membranes. The functionalized samples were characterized by SEM-EDX to identify the moieties attached to the surface. Membranes with open porosity ranging from 27% to 51% and average pore sizes from 0.2 to 1.4 μm were obtained. Samples sintered at 1400 °C with added pore former yielded the highest water flux, 257 Lm−2h−1, which increased to 642 Lm−2h−1 after functionalization. Membranes with tailored porosity and pore size obtained in this study are indicated for applications involving separation processes, especially for microfiltration systems.