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Influence of silica addition on the properties of epoxidised natural rubber/polyvinyl chloride composite membrane
Author(s) -
Jon Nazwa,
Samad Norfarhana Ab.,
Abdullah Nurul Amni,
Abdullah Ibrahim,
Othaman Rizafizah
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
journal of applied polymer science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.575
H-Index - 166
eISSN - 1097-4628
pISSN - 0021-8995
DOI - 10.1002/app.38997
Subject(s) - membrane , polyvinyl chloride , materials science , natural rubber , thermal stability , fourier transform infrared spectroscopy , phase inversion , permeation , composite material , chemical engineering , polymer chemistry , chemistry , biochemistry , engineering
Flexible and porous epoxidised natural rubber (ENR)/polyvinyl chloride (PVC) membranes were prepared via phase inversion technique. The pore formation on ENR/PVC membranes was initiated with the introduction of inorganic particles (silica). Two types of silica, microsilica (microcrystalline silica powder) and nanosilica [generated from Tetraethoxysilane (TEOS)] were used. Effects of silica addition on the membrane structure are investigated by means of FTIR, SEM, TGA, and UTM. FTIR results showed the presence of signature peak of SiOSi at 1102 and 1088 cm −1 for ENR/PVC/SiO 2 and ENR/PVC/TEOS membrane, respectively. Morphological studies showed that pores developed in ENR/PVC/TEOS membranes were more homogenous as compared to ENR/PVC/SiO 2 membranes. Thermal and mechanical stability of the membranes improved with the incorporation of silica. ENR/PVC/SiO 2 membrane exhibited better mechanical and thermal properties as compared to ENR/PVC/TEOS membranes. CO 2 and N 2 gas permeation of silica‐filled membranes increased with increasing silica content and the permeability of ENR/PVC/SiO 2 membrane toward N 2 and CO 2 gasses was higher than ENR/PVC/TEOS membrane. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2013