Tubular macro-porous titanium membranes

We present tubular macroporous titanium membranes prepared via a dry-wet spinning process from a polyethersulfone solution loaded with Ti particles (15 μm) and a subsequent sintering process at various sintering temperatures (1100–1500 °C) and sintering times (30–75 min). Outer diameter, wall thickness, average pore size and porosity of the Ti tubes were ~4.5 mm, ~350 μm, 1.6–2.8 μm and ~30%, respectively. These tubular membranes have excellent mechanical strength, electrical conductivity as well as nitrogen and water permeability. These properties, together with the inherent high corrosion and temperature resistance of titanium make them suitable for a wide range of membrane applications such as microfiltration, porous tubular electrodes for electrochemical membrane reactors; and gas-to-liquid diffuser.