Membrane technology is seen as an effective alternative in water treatment strategies. Additive are often used to improve the pore formation on the surface of a membrane. However, little study has been done to prove the effect of an additive on the phase inversion of a membrane. This paper focusses on the effect of silica nanoparticles (additive) on the phase inversion of a PVDF membrane. SEM images shows the increase in pore distribution and filterability tests indicate an increasing permeability with an increasing silica content. A study on the viscosity of the dope solution illustrates the theory occurring behind the phase inversion process. Overall, silica plays a huge role in altering the phase inversion process that occurs in a membrane. This in turn produces a more porous membrane which is expected to be more resistant to fouling. © 2018 Penerbit Akademia Baru.