Preparation and Self-Cleaning Performance of High-Strength Double-Layer PVDF-PVC-Nano-Graphite/PVDF-PVC Super-Hydrophobic Composite Membrane

Molecules. 2023 Nov 28;28(23):7821. doi: 10.3390/molecules28237821.

Abstract

The double-layer PVDF-PVC (D-PP/PP) super-hydrophobic composite membrane was prepared by the coating immersion phase separation method to enhance the mechanical properties of the composite membrane. The D-PP/PP super-hydrophobic membrane was prepared using the casting solution concentration of 12 wt% PVDF-PVC composite membrane as basement and 4% casting of PVDF-PVC coating. The contact angle of the D-PP/PP membrane was 150.4 ± 0.3°, and the scanning electron microscope showed that the surface of the D-PP/PP membrane was covered by a cross-linked micro-nano microsphere. The mechanical properties showed that the maximum tensile force of the D-PP/PP composite membrane was 2.34 N, which was 19.4% higher than that of PVDF-PVC (1.96 N). Nano-graphite was added to the coating layer in the experiment. The prepared double-layer PVDF-PVC-nano-graphite/PVDF-PVC (D-PPG/PP) composite membrane reached 153.7 ± 0.5°, the contact angle increasing by 3.3°. The SEM comparison showed that the D-PPG/PP composite membrane had a more obvious micro-nano level microsphere layer. The mechanical properties are also superior. By preparing the D-PP/PP membrane, the mechanical properties of the membrane were improved, and the super-hydrophobic property of the coating was also obtained. At the same time, it was found that adding nano-graphite to the coating layer can better improve the hydrophobic, mechanical, and self-cleaning properties of the D-PP/PP composite membrane.

Keywords: PVDF-PVC composite membrane; double-layer composite membrane; nano-graphite; self-cleaning properties; super-hydrophobic.

Grants and funding

This work is supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 22168017), Hainan Provincial Natural Science Foundation of China (220QN251, 222CXTD513), the Open Project of Engineering Research Center of Biofilm Water Purification and Utilization Technology of Ministry of Education (BWPU2022KF01), and the Open Project of Key Laboratory of Water Pollution Treatment and Resource Reuse of Hainan Province (SHJKFKT202205).