Physico‐Chemical Characterizations of Poly(vinylidene fluoride)/Cu3(BTC)2 Composite Membranes Prepared by In Situ Crystal Growth

• Published in: Polymer engineering and science Vol. 60; no. 3; pp. 464 - 473
• Main Authors: Missaoui, Nadhem, Chaplais, Gérald, Josien, Ludovic, Michelin, Laure, Schrodj, Gautier, Haj Said, Ayoub
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hoboken, USA John Wiley & Sons, Inc 01.03.2020; Blackwell Publishing Ltd; Wiley-Blackwell
• Subjects: Benzene; Chemical Sciences; Crystal growth; Crystallites; Fluorides; Fourier transforms; Mechanical properties; Membranes; Metal-organic frameworks; Organic chemistry; Piezoelectricity; Polymers; Polyvinylidene fluorides; Thermodynamic properties; Vinylidene fluoride
• ISSN: 0032-3888; 1548-2634
• DOI: 10.1002/pen.25301

In this work, we present a simple and fast method for elaborating hybrid membranes by growing metal–organic framework crystals inside a polymer solution. The solution thus obtained was casted then annealed at 90°C for 5 h. This method was tested with poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) as a piezoelectric polymer and the Cu3(BTC)2, BTC = 1,3,5‐benzene tricarboxylate, as a filler. The characterization of the obtained membranes by attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and X‐ray diffraction showed the presence of the characteristic signatures of Cu3(BTC)2 and the β‐phase of PVDF. Moreover, scanning electron microscopy images reveal that the Cu3(BTC)2 crystallites have grown along the PVDF membranes. The effect of the filler on both thermal and mechanical properties of the membranes was also studied. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 60:464–473, 2020. © 2019 Society of Plastics Engineers