In this study, PVDF/PTFE composite membranes were prepared by adding a PTFE nanoemulsion to a PVDF solution and casting it through the conventional non-solvent-induced phase separation method. The objective was to explore the effectiveness of using a simple and economical method to modify PVDF membranes with PTFE to enhance their anticorrosion performance, especially under highly acidic or alkaline conditions. PTFE nanoparticles (of around 200 nm in size) in nanoemulsion form were blended with PVDF at a mass ratio of PTFE:PVDF in the range of 0-0.3:1. The obtained membranes were examined to determine the effect of the added PTFE nanoparticles on the structure of the modified PVDF membranes as well as on their mechanical strength and surface characteristics. The membranes were then immersed in various concentrations of acidic or alkaline solutions for varied durations ranging from a few days up to as long as 180 days (6 months). The impacts of by the corrosive solutions on the tensile strength, surface roughness, and water flux of the membranes with different exposure times were quantified. The results showed that although a certain extent of change may occur with extended immersion times, greatly enhanced anticorrosion performance was obtained with the prepared PVDF/PTFE membranes compared with the unmodified PVDF membrane. For example, after being immersed in 5 mol-H+··L-1 H2SO4, HCl, and HNO3 solutions for 6 months, the tensile strength at breaking point remained at up to 69.70, 74.07, and 71.38%, respectively, of the initial strength for the PVDF/PTFE (M30) membrane. This was in contrast to values of only 55.77, 70.43, and 61.78% for the unmodified PVDF membrane (M0). Although the water flux and surface roughness showed a change trends to the tensile strength, the PVDF/PTFE (M30) membrane had much higher stability than the PVDF (M0) membrane. In a continuous filtration experiment containing H2SO4 at 0.01 mol-H+·L-1 for 336 h (14 days), the PVDF/PTFE membrane showed a maximum flux change of less than 30%. This was in comparison with a change of up to 50% for the PVDF membrane. However, the PVDF/PTFE membranes did not seem to have a greatly enhanced anticorrosion performance in the alkaline solution environment tested.
Keywords: PTFE nanoparticle; PVDF/PTFE composite membrane; anticorrosive performance; non-solvent induced phase separation method; polymer blending.