Last update:
10/28/2004
Modified Membranes
This part of our research program focuses on the use of advanced atmospheric pressure plasma-induced graft polymerization to surface-modify RO membranes. The surface modification process is designed to impart non-fouling surface properties to the membrane surface.
Surface modification with polymers can involve surface attachment of preformed polymer chains (i.e., polymer grafting) and/or graft polymerization which is the sequential growth of polymer chains (by monomer addition) from active surface sites. Graft polymerization can be effective in producing a a high surface chain density relative to polymer grafting. In the PolySep approach a high surface chain density is possible for a wide range of polymer functionality.
|
AFM image of tethered PVP surface chains created by plasma-induced graft polymerization.PVP |
