FABRICATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OFHIGH PERFORMANCE CERAMIC MEMBRANE HAVINGNANOMETRE PORES

In this study, carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were grown directly in the pores of micro porous pyrex membranes and consequently ceramic membranes with very fine pores and high porosity were achieved. Our experiment was done in two stages. Initially cobalt powder with different percent was homogeneously mixed with pyrex powder. In order to produce row membranes, each of these mixtures were compacted in the form of tablet by use of a uniaxial cold press and in a stainless steel mould, and then the tablets were sintered at different temperature in an electric furnace. In second stage chemical vapor deposition (CVD) method was used to grow CNTs within the pores of the membranes. Argon and ammonia were used as carrier and reactive gas respectively and acetylene was used as the carbon feedstock. Morphology of the membranes before and after CVD process was studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). After CVD process CNTs were grown in the pores of membranes and the pores size was decreased but total porosity of the membrane was not changed considerably. In this way membranes with high porosity and fine pores were fabricated.