Applied Surface Science, Vol.255, No.15, 7073-7077, 2009
Preparation of superhydrophobic membranes by electrospinning of fluorinated silane functionalized poly(vinylidene fluoride)
Fluorinated silane functionalized poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) is synthesized by graft polymerization of 3-trimethoxylpropyl methylacrylate with PVDF followed by coupling of fluorinated silanes. Flat membrane prepared using this functionalized PVDF has a water contact angle of 140 degrees. Superhydrophobic PVDF membrane with a contact angle larger than 150 degrees is prepared by the electrospinning of the. fluorinated silane functionalized PVDF. The morphologies of the membranes are characterized using scanning electron microscopy. The surface composition of the membranes is analyzed using FTIR and the contact angles and water drops on the surface of the membrane are measured using video microscopy. (C) 2009 Elsevier B. V. All rights reserved.