PREPARATION OF POLYMER BRUSHES FROM POLY(VINYLIDENE FLUORIDE) SURFACES BY UV IRRADIATION PRETREATMENT

Grafting of polymer brushes from the poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) surfaces was carried out. The active species, such as peroxide and hydroperoxide, on the surface were generated via ultraviolet (UV) irradiation pretreatment in nitrogen, followed by air exposure. Homopolymer brushes of methyl methacrylate (MMA) were prepared by the surface-initiated free radical polymerization from the peroxide initiators on the PVDF surface. The peroxides formed on UV-treated and air-exposed PVDF surfaces were determined quantitatively by the reaction with 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) in toluene. The chemical composition and topography of the graft-functionalized PVDF surfaces were characterized by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), attenuated total reflectance (ATR) FT-IR spectroscopy, and atomic force microscopy (AFM). ATR FT-IR revealed an increase in the graft concentration of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) on PVDF surfaces with an increase of the UV irradiation pretreatment time. Water contact angles on PVDF surfaces were reduced by surface grafting of PMMA.