RADIATION GRAFTING OF ACRYLIC AND METHACRYLIC ACIDS ONTO POLY(TETRAFLUOROETHYLENE-HEXAFLUOROPROPYLENE-VINYLIDENE FLUORIDE) TFB FILMS

A study has been made for the preparation of membranes by the direct radiation grafting of acrylic and methacrylic acids onto poly(tetrafluoroethylene-hexafluoropropylene-vinylidene fluoride) TFB films. The appropriate reaction conditions were selected under which the graft polymerization was carried out successfully. In this grafting system, ammonium ferrous sulfate (Mohr's salt), ferric chloride, and cuppric chloride were used as inhibitors to minimize the homopolymerization of acrylic acid and methacrylic acid. Also, the effect of monomer concentration on the rate of grafting was investigated. The dependence of the grafting rate on monomer concentration was found to be of the order of 1.1 and 1.0 for acrylic acid and methacrylic acid, respectively. This grafting system was proceeded by a front mechanism. Some selected properties of the grafted films such as swelling behavior, dimensional change, and mechanical and electrical properties were investigated. It was found that the grafted membranes possess good hydrophilic properties that may make them promising in some practical applications.