Track-etch membranes: The Kazakh experience

In 1972 track-etch membranes were first developed by General Electric Corporation. Initially used as a simple laboratory tool, track-etch processes have grown into an industrial method of considerable technological and commercial impact. For instance, track-etch membranes are widely utilized for liquid and gas purification, controlled drug delivery, cell culturing, and serve as supports or templates. Track-etch technology utilizes heavy ion accelerators meaning exploitation of such a technology is relatively inaccessible to most. The existence of a unique heavy ion accelerator in the Republic of Kazakhstan (RK) provides the country with an opportunity to manufacture domestically track-etch membranes. In this work fabrication of symmetrical polyethylene terephthalate (PET) track-etch membranes using a heavy ion accelerator located in the capital city of RK, Astana, is presented. The developed membranes have been examined using a scanning electron microscope (SEM), a goni-ometer, and mechanical and water permeability testers; the results obtained having been compared with characteristics of commercially available membranes.