Modification of Polymeric Membranes by Corona Discharge

Abstract

A brief review of the literature data on the treatment of polymer membranes by alternating and unipolar corona discharge is presented in this work. Treatment by corona discharge in air leads to the formation of ozone, which contributes to the formation of oxygen-containing groups (C–O–C, C–OН, C(O)OН, C–O, and C=O) on the membrane surface of carbon-chain polyolefin, polysulfone, polyethersulfone, polyetherketone, polyvinyl chloride, and other polymers, as confirmed by IR spectroscopy. This contributes to an increase in hydrophilic characteristics, wettability, and polarity of the membranes, and an increase in the roughness of the latter by burning, as shown by atomic force microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and the sessile drop technique. Hydrophilization of polymeric membranes after corona treatment results in improved performance during the ultrafiltration of media containing microorganisms, albumin, oil-water and petroleum-water emulsions, etc.