Modification of PET membrane surface with nanothin polymer layers via “grafting to” approach

POLY 65

Oleksandr Burtovyy, oburtov@clemson.edu1, Viktor Klep, klep@clemson.edu1, Tacibaht Turel, turelta@auburn.edu2, Yasser Gowayed, gowayya@auburn.edu2, and Igor Luzinov, luzinov@clemson.edu1. (1) School of Materials Science and Engineering, Clemson University, 161 Sirrine Hall, Clemson, SC 29634, (2) Department of Polymer and Fiber Engineering, Auburn University, 115 Textile Building, Auburn, AL 36849
Surface modification of poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) membrane was performed by grafting of hydrophobic and hydrophilic polymers using “grafting to” approach. To increase initial surface reactivity of the membranes, air plasma was applied for a short period of time. The reactive anchoring interface was created by deposition of several nanometers of poly(glycidyl methacrylate) (PGMA) on the membrane boundary. Next, polymers containing reactive (amino and carboxy) groups were grafted to the macromolecular PGMA anchoring layer. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and gas permeation test demonstrated that the polymers could be chemically attached to the PET membrane modified with PGMA. AFM and SEM images clearly revealed that grafted polymers uniformly covered the surface and did not block pores of membrane. Contact angle measurements showed excellent wetting properties with water for the membranes grafted with hydrophilic polymers and significant hydrophobicity for the membranes modified with hydrophobic grafted layer.
 

Functional Nanomaterials from New Polymer Synthetic Methodologies
2:00 PM-5:50 PM, Sunday, April 6, 2008 Hilton New Orleans Riverside -- Grand Salon 3, Oral

Division of Polymer Chemistry

The 235th ACS National Meeting, New Orleans, LA, April 6-10, 2008