Radiation-induced admicellar graft polymerization of 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate onto polyvinylidene fluoride membranes using an electron beam accelerator

Abstract

The efficiency of admicellar graft polymerization in functionalizing polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) membranes was explored. The effect of 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) concentration and the absorbed dose was investigated using a simultaneous method of radiation-induced graft polymerization. The degree of grafting increased with raising the absorbed dose and HEMA concentration. The Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) peak for C–O stretch and the asymmetric and symmetric stretching of the C–O–C bridge, respectively, proved the presence of poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (PHEMA) on the modified PVDF. As the grafting yield increased, rougher surfaces were observed. According to contact angle analysis, the grafted membrane with a higher grafting yield outperformed the low grafting yield membrane in terms of water flux and hydrophilicity.