Reactive & Functional Polymers, Vol.84, 10-20, 2014
Temperature- and pH-sensitive membrane formed from blends of poly(vinylidene fluoride)-graft-poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) and poly(acrylic acid) microgels
Temperature- and pH-responsive membranes prepared from blends of poly(vinylidene fluoride)-graft-poly(N-isopropylacrylamide)(PVDF-g-PNIPAM) copolymer and poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) microgels in N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) solution by phase inversion method. PM microgels help PNIPAM chains largely enrich onto membrane surface. Furthermore, adding PM microgels increases the porous size, porosity and hydrophilic property of the blend membrane. The membranes show temperature-sensitivity between 30 and 35 degrees C, and pH-sensitivity between pH 3 and 5 on permeating aqueous solutions. Meanwhile, the blend membranes keep good antifouling property even if one of the hydrophilic components becoming hydrophobic in response to temperature or pH stimuli, which is superior to single-sensitive PVDF membrane. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Keywords:Poly(vinylidene fluoride);Temperature-sensitive;pH-sensitive;Poly(acrylic acid);Poly(N-isopropylacrylamide);Antifouling property