New porous perfluoropolyether membranes

• Published in: Journal of applied polymer science Vol. 80; no. 10; pp. 1756 - 1763
• Main Authors: Chaouk, Hassan, Wilkie, John S., Meijs, Gordon F., Cheng, Han Ying
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York John Wiley & Sons, Inc 16.06.2001; Wiley
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Exact sciences and technology; Exchange resins and membranes; Forms of application and semi-finished materials; membrane; perfluouropolyether; Polymer industry, paints, wood; porosity; Technology of polymers; Solvent effect; Elastic modulus; Porous membrane; Pore structure; Fluorine containing polymer; Mechanical properties; Ether polymer; Permeability; Propanol; Experimental study; Protein; Acrylate polymer; Photopolymerization; Preparation; Water content
• ISSN: 0021-8995; 1097-4628
• DOI: 10.1002/app.1270

A new family of porous fluorinated membranes was developed from perfluoropolyethers (PFPEs). The PFFE–dimethacrylate (3) was dispersed in isopropanol to form a clear homogeneous solution, which after UV curing in polypropylene molds formed a porous polymer disk. A series of 10 polymers was prepared with ratios of isopropanol to PFPE ranging from 1.3:1 to 0.2:1. The water content of the membranes after hydration varied from 56 to 7% (w/w) and was directly proportional to the percentage of isopropanol used in the polymerization. However, the tensile elastic modulus, which ranged from 0.17 to 15 MPa, was inversely proportional to the water content. The high water content membranes [52 and 46% (w/w)] had a similar permeability to glucose, inulin, and albumin, while the membranes with lower water contents of 37 and 25% displayed progressively lower permeability. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 80: 1756–1763, 2001