Surface modification of acrylonitrile copolymer membranes by grafting acrylamide. I. Initiation by ceric ions

Abstract

Surface modification of membranes of an acrylonitrile copolymer (PAN) containing 5.5% methyl methacrylate (MMA) and 4.0% sodium methylpropylenesulfonate by grafting acrylamide (AAm) with cetric ammonium nitrate as initiator in the aqueous medium has been studied. Results showed that the extent of grafting was varied with some parameters, such as dimethyl formamide and Tween-20 amount in the reaction solution, concentration of AAm, and reaction time. The grafted copolymer was verified by infrared spectra and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Both of these methods also showed that the ester group of MMA unit on the surface of PAN membranes may be partially hydrolyzed into carboxyl group in the copolymerization condition. Surface and pore structures of PAN membranes after grafting were viewed under a scanning electron microscope (SEM). From SEM photos we know that AAm homopolymer branches were grafted onto the surface of the membrane and the morphology of membrane did not change. Results of contact angle of isooctane on the membrane under water showed that the wettability of the modified membrane was improved. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 66: 1521–1529, 1997