Controlled Growth of Polyamide Films atop Homogenous and Heterogeneous Hydrogels Using Gel–Liquid Interfacial Polymerization. Issue 13 (22nd May 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Wang, Mengyuan; Stafford, Christopher M.; Cox, Lewis M.; Blevins, Adrienne K.; Aghajani, Masoud; Killgore, Jason P.; Ding, Yifu
• Is Part Of: Macromolecular chemistry and physics. Volume 220:Issue 13(2019)
• Page Start: n/a
• Page End: n/a
• Publication Date: 2019-05-22
• Subjects: hydrogels -- interfacial polymerization -- polyamide barrier layers -- thin film composite membranes; Polymers -- Periodicals; Polymerization -- Periodicals; Synthetic products -- Periodicals; Macromolecules -- Periodicals; 547.7
• DOI: 10.1002/macp.201900100
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1022-1352

Abstract

Abstract: Controlled growth of crosslinked polyamide (PA) thin films is demonstrated at the interface of a monomer‐soaked hydrogel and an organic solution of the complementary monomer. Termed gel–liquid interfacial polymerization (GLIP), the resulting PA films are measured to be chemically and mechanically analogous to the active layer in thin film composite (TFC) membranes. PA thin films are prepared using the GLIP process on both a morphologically homogeneous hydrogel prepared from poly(2‐hydroxyethylmethacrylate) and a phase‐separated, heterogeneous hydrogel prepared from poly(acrylamide). Two monomer systems are examined: trimesoyl chloride (TMC) reacting with m‐phenylene diamine (MPD) and TMC reacting with piperazine (PIP). Unlike the self‐limiting growth behavior in TFC membrane fabrication, diffusion‐limited, continuous growth of the PA films is observed, where both the thickness and roughness of the PA layers increase with reaction time. A key morphological difference is found between the two monomer systems using the GLIP process; TMC/MPD produces a ridge‐and‐valley surface morphology whereas TMC/PIP produces nodule/granular structures. The GLIP process represents a unique opportunity to not only explore the pore characteristics (size, spacing, and continuity) on the resulting structure and morphology of the interfacially polymerized thin films, but also a method to modify the surface of (or encapsulate) hydrogels. Abstract : For the first time, growth of polyamide layers is demonstrated using a gel–liquid interfacial polymerization process where hydrogels are used both as a support and a monomer reservoir. On both a homogeneous hydrogel and a heterogeneous hydrogel, the growth kinetics appear to be diffusion limited, unlike the self‐limiting behaviors commonly observed in interfacial polymerization of polyamide layers for membrane applications.