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Influence of pore size and pore shape on thermo‐sensitive properties of poly[(ethylene terephthalate)‐ graft ‐( N ‐isopropylacrylamide)] track membranes
Author(s) -
Liu Qi,
Yang Xiaomin,
Chen Xiliang,
Ma Mingwang,
Yang Kang,
Liu Dan,
Zhu Zhiyong
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
polymer international
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.592
H-Index - 105
eISSN - 1097-0126
pISSN - 0959-8103
DOI - 10.1002/pi.2638
Subject(s) - membrane , materials science , chemical engineering , grafting , poly(n isopropylacrylamide) , polymerization , polymer , composite material , polymer chemistry , copolymer , chemistry , biochemistry , engineering
BACKGROUND: The main aim of this work was to prepare poly[(ethylene terephthalate)‐ graft ‐( N ‐isopropylacrylamide)] (PET‐ graft ‐NIPAAm) track membranes with various pore shapes and pore sizes, and to investigate the influence of pore shape and pore size on the thermo‐sensitive properties of the membranes. The PET‐ graft ‐NIPAAm track membranes were prepared using UV illumination, chemical etching and γ‐irradiation polymerization. Their thermo‐sensitive properties were investigated using conductimetry. RESULTS: PET track membranes with four kinds of pore shapes and sizes were prepared using chemical etching by changing the UV illumination time. After γ‐irradiation, NIPAAm was grafted into the etched PET track membranes both inside the pores and on the membranes. Conductimetric measurements showed that only membranes with appropriate pore shape and pore size had thermo‐sensitive properties. When the grafting ratio was 5 wt%, membranes with both small double cone‐shaped pores and with very large cylinder‐shaped pores showed no thermo‐sensitive properties. CONCLUSION: Along with the grafting ratio, the pore shape and pore size also have an influence on the thermo‐sensitive properties of PET‐ graft ‐NIPAAm track membranes. Copyright © 2009 Society of Chemical Industry