Graft copolymerization of GMA and EDMA on PVDF to hydrophilic surface modification by electron beam irradiation

This study was carried out to convert the hydrophobic characteristics of PVDF to hydrophilic. Poly(vinylidene fluorine) (PVDF) was grafted by electron beam irradiation and sulfonated. The grafting degree of modified PVDF increased with the monomer concentration, but not the conversion degree. From the results of FTIR and XPS, it was shown that the amount of converted sulfur increased with the grafting degree. The radiation-induced graft polymerization led to decrease fluorine from 35.7% to 21.3%. Meanwhile, the oxygen and sulfur content increased up to 8.1% and 3.2%. The pore size of modified membranes was shrunken and the roughness sharply decreased after irradiation. The ion exchange capacity and contact angle were investigated to show the characteristics of PVDF. The enhanced ion exchange capacity and lower contact angle of modified PVDF showed that the hydrophilicity played a role in determining membrane fouling. Electron beam irradiation successfully modified the hydrophobic characteristics of PVDF to hydrophilic.