Design and properties of polyvinylidene fluoride/poly(styrene-butadiene-styrene)/functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotube nanocomposite membranes. (April 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Mehwish, Nabila; Kausar, Ayesha; Siddiq, Muhammad; Raheel, Muhammad
• Is Part Of: Journal of plastic film and sheeting. Volume 31:Number 2(2015:Apr.)
• Page Start: 118
• Page End: 143
• Publication Date: 2015-04
• Subjects: Polyvinylidene fluoride -- poly(styrene-butadiene-styrene) -- MWCNT -- tensile strength -- porosity -- pure water flux; City planning -- Bibliography -- Periodicals; 668.495
• DOI: 10.1177/8756087914555045
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 8756-0879

Abstract

In this work, we prepared thin film nanocomposite membranes for water desalination. We synthesized nanocomposite derived from polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), poly(styrene-butadiene-styrene) (SBS), and modified multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT). Three nanotube modifications were prepared: carboxylic acid functional MWCNT-COOH, acid chloride functional MWCNT-COCl and thiocyanate-modified MWCNT-SCN. Consequently, three nanocomposite blends with 0.01–1 wt. % nanofiller, PVDF/SBS-MWCNT-COOH, PVDF/SBS-MWCNT-COCl and PVDF/SBS-MWCNT-SCN, were prepared. Functionalization of the nanotube was characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Surface morphology of the membranes was studied by scanning electron microscopy. PVDF/SBS-MWCNT-COOH 0.01–1 nanocomposite tensile strength increased from 10.1 to 13.1 MPa, while PVDF/SBS-MWCNT-SCN 0.01–1 increased from 10.2 to 13.9 MPa. PVDF/SBS-MWCNT-COOH nanocomposite maximum decomposition temperature increased from 516℃ to 559℃ and PVDF/SBS-MWCNT-SCN increased from 551 to 574℃. PVDF/SBS-MWCNT-COOH 0.01–0.1 percent solvent content changed from 1.07% to 1.39% and PVDF/SBS-MWCNT-SCN 0.01–0.1 changed from 1.08% to 2.80%. PVDF/SBS-MWCNT-SCN 0.01–0.1 porosity in water (0.05–0.08) was highest among all membranes. Shrinkage ratio decreased with increasing nanotube content in all membranes. PVDF/SBS-MWCNT-SCN nanocomposite pure water flux (4.7 mLcm −2 min −1 ), salt rejection (83.9%), and recovery (76.7%) were higher than other membranes prepared.