Functionalization of Nylon Membranes via Surface-Initiated Atom-Transfer Radical Polymerization

The ability to manipulate and control the surface properties of nylons is of crucial importance to their widespread applications. In this work, surface-initiated atom-transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) is employed to tailor the functionality of the nylon membrane and pore surfaces in a well-cont...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Langmuir 2007-07, Vol.23 (16), p.8585-8592
Main Authors: Xu, F. J, Zhao, J. P, Kang, E. T, Neoh, K. G, Li, J
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adsorption
Chemistry
Colloidal state and disperse state
Exact sciences and technology
General and physical chemistry
Membranes
Membranes, Artificial
Methacrylates - chemistry
Nylons - chemistry
Polyethylene Glycols - chemistry
Proteins - chemistry
Surface physical chemistry
Surface Properties
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Summary:The ability to manipulate and control the surface properties of nylons is of crucial importance to their widespread applications. In this work, surface-initiated atom-transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) is employed to tailor the functionality of the nylon membrane and pore surfaces in a well-controlled manner. A simple two-step method, involving the activation of surface amide groups with formaldehyde and the reaction of the resulting N-methylol polyamide with 2-bromoisobutyryl bromide, was first developed for the covalent immobilization of ATRP initiators on the nylon membrane and its pore surfaces. Functional polymer brushes of 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) and poly(ethylene glycol)monomethacrylate (PEGMA) were prepared via surface-initiated ATRP from the nylon membranes. A kinetics study revealed that the chain growth from the membranes was consistent with a “controlled” process. The dormant chain ends of the grafted HEMA polymer (P(HEMA)) and PEGMA polymer (P(PEGMA)) on the nylon membranes could be reactivated for the consecutive surface-initiated ATRP to produce the corresponding nylon membranes functionalized by P(HEMA)-b-P(PEGMA) and P(PEGMA)-b-P(HEMA) diblock copolymer brushes. In addition, membranes with grafted P(HEMA) and P(PEGMA) brushes exhibited good resistance to protein adsorption and fouling under continuous-flow conditions.
ISSN:0743-7463
1520-5827
DOI:10.1021/la7011342