Some microporous poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVdF) separators for lithium-ion batteries, used in liquid organic electrolytes based on a mixture of carbonate solvents and lithium salt LiPF6, were characterized by the study of the swelling phenomena on dense PVdF membranes. Various aspects of the kinetics of the carbonate solvents and the solvent mixture sorption in dense PVdF slabs were studied at different temperatures. Non-Fickian behavior, characterized by S-shaped sorption curves, was highlighted, and a salt effect, which resulted in two-stage sorption, was studied. Diffusion coefficients and activation energies were calculated for the Fickian portions of the sorption curves, that is, at short times and low swelling ratios. A strong influence of the different interaction parameters was shown for the swelling kinetics. This study proved that the swelling of microporous PVdF membranes could be considered instantaneous. (C) 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.