Nuclear track-etched pore membrane production using neutrons from the Thai research reactor TRR-1/M1

This work presents the results of the nuclear pore membrane production using the neutrons from the Thai research reactor TRR-1/M1 for pore piercing process on the polycarbonate thin film. With our experimental design, the fast neutron provides better results in pore piercing comparing with thermal neutron bombardment. This can be explained by most of the latent tracks produced by thermal neutron bombardment not penetrating through the thin film. Chemical etching process using NaOH solution with appropriate time, concentration and temperature is employed to enlarge the latent tracks in the bombarded film. Fast neutron bombardment with 5, 10 and 20 minutes bombarding time successfully produces the nuclear track membrane. Pore size and pore density of the produced membranes examined by SEM are 0.24 – 1.01 μm and 4.7 – 245 × 106 pore/cm2, respectively. Bubble point tests show the maximum pore diameter of the produced membrane ranged between 1.18 – 3.25 μm