Chun-Hui Du

SYNTHESIS OF AMPHIPHILIC COMB-SHAPED COPOLYMERS USED FOR SURFACE MODIFICATION OF PVDF MEMBRANES

The synthesis of a novel amphiphilic comb-shaped copolymer consisting of a main chain of styrene-(N-(4-hydroxyphenyl) maleimide) (SHMI) copolymer and poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate (PEGMA) side groups was achieved by atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). The amphiphilic copolymers were characterized by 1H-NMR, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and gel permeation chromatography (GPC). From thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), the decomposition temperature of SHMI-g-PEGMA is lower than that of SHMI, and the graft ratio of PEGMA in the SHMI is 18.6%. The experimental results of solubilities showed that SHMI, SHMI-Br and SHMI-g-PEGMA had excellent solubility in polar solvents, such as DMF, DMSO and NMP. SHMI-g-PEGMA had higher solubilities in H2O and methanol, while lower solubility in CHCl3 than SHMI and SHMI-Br. PVDF blend membranes were prepared via the standard immersion precipitation phase inversion process, using amphiphilic SHMI-g-PEGMA copolymer as additives. The morp...