NIPS hollow fiber membrane spinning is a process for preparing hollow fiber membranes via non-solvent induced phase separation (NIPS). The core principle is to extrude a polymer dope through a spinneret into a non-solvent coagulation bath, where solvent/non-solvent exchange drives polymer phase separation and solidification, forming a hollow structure with an asymmetric porous morphology. This process is widely used in water treatment, gas separation, and medical applications.
A NIPS hollow fiber membrane spinning equipment mainly includes four core sections: dope preparation, metering and extrusion, coagulation and forming, and post treatment and take up system. The hollow fiber emmbrane spinning machine performance and stability determine the quality and properties of the hollow fiber membrane. Leveraging 11 years of experience and R&D, Trustech has upgraded the SteadyiCore Ultra 2.0 Heating System, TitanMix Pro 4.0 Mixing System, PrimeGlider Pro 3.0 Automatic Pay-off, SmartCoil Elite 3.0 Automatic Winding, and StoutDrive 2.0 motor drive setup. These Trustech technologies precisely control temperature, improve mixing uniformity and save time, automate take-up to reduce labor, and ensure constant speed pay-off to improve quality,thereby enhancing hollow fiber membrane spinning system stability and reliability, reducing setup time and production downtime, and increasing overall spinning efficiency by 11.4% compared with pre-upgrade levels.
Core sections of a NIPS production line NIPS
Dope preparation system
Control parameters: dissolution temperature, stirring speed, deaeration time, and vacuum level. Ensure a homogeneous, bubble-free dope to avoid internal fiber defects.
Metering and extrusion system
Control parameters: metering pump flow accuracy, spinneret orifice size and temperature, bore fluid flow rate and pressure. The spinneret orifice directly affects fiber diameter; bore fluid flow must be matched to the dope to prevent fiber collapse.
Coagulation and forming system
Control parameters: coagulation bath temperature, composition, and liquid level; washing temperature and time to avoid fiber shrinkage. Washing must thoroughly remove residual solvent to prevent membrane performance degradation.
Post treatment and take-up system
Control parameters: draw ratio, drying temperature and time, winding tension. The draw ratio should be controlled at 1.5–3× to enhance mechanical properties;drying temperature should be tailored to the material to avoid embrittlement from overdrying.
Key control parameters
|
Core Sections |
Parameters |
|
Dope Preparation System |
|
|
Temperature |
60°C(constant stirring for 6 hours) |
|
Material Ratios |
PVDF 19.5%: NMP 65%: PEG 13.5%; |
|
Deaeration Time |
Stand for 10 hours (to ensure no bubble defects) |
|
Metering And Extrusion System |
|
|
Metering Pump Accuracy |
±0.5% |
|
Nitrogen Pressure |
0.35 MPa |
|
Spinneret Orifice Diameter |
1.2/0.8 mm |
|
Spinning Speed |
21 m/min |
|
Coagulation And Forming System |
|
|
Air Gap Length |
14cm |
|
Coagulation Bath Temperature |
26°C |
|
Coagulant Composition |
Water / Ethanol |
|
Dual-diffusion Time |
Controlled by adjusting speed |
|
Post-treatment and Take-up System |
|
|
Washing Requirement |
Residual Solvent < 0.1% |
|
Drying Method |
Hot Air at 62 °C |
|
Draw Ratio |
1.2× (increases tensile strength to >0.4 MPa) |
|
Winding Speed |
18 m/min |
Suitable Materials
PVDF (Polyvinylidene Fluoride)
CA (cellulose acetate)
PVC (Polyvinyl chloride)
PES (Polyethersulfone)
PSF/PSU (Polysulfone)
PA (Nylon, Polyamide)
PAN (polyacrylonitrile)
Customer Membrane Examples
Brief Introduction
Trustech is a leading company that specializes in the research, development, and manufacturing of hollow fiber membrane spinning machines and spinning spinnerets. These spinning machines and spinning spinnerets have extensive applications across various industries including water purification, gas separation, hemodialysis, ECMO (Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation), food and beverage processing, biotechnology, and chemical engineering, among others.
Trustech is not only at the forefront of hollow fiber membrane spinnerets which develop FCT 5th - 8th generation technology, but also leading hollow fiber membrane spinning machine and flat sheet membrane casting system. Backed by outstanding R&D and quality, Trustech holds China’s high-end market, upgraded spinning systems to enhance precision and stability, and engineered key subsystems including the SteadyiCore Ultra 2.0 Heating system,TitanMix Pro 4.0 Mixing system, PrimeGlider Pro 3.0 Automatic pay-off, SmartCoil Elite 3.0 Automatic winding and StoutDrive 2.0 motor drive setup. These advances of spinning machine and spinneret improved spinning system stability, reduced commissioning and production downtime, and increased overall spinning efficiency by 11.4% compared with before the improvements.
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