PREPARATION OF PLASMA-GRAFTED POLYMER MEMBRANES AND THEIR MORPHOLOGY AND PERVAPORATION PROPERTIES TOWARD BENZENE CYCLOHEXANE MIXTURES/

Composite membranes were prepared by plasma-induced graft polymerizati on of vinyl monomers onto porous substrates of high density polyethyle ne, and the relationship between the polymerization conditions and mor phological structure and pervaporation performance toward benzene/cycl ohexane mixtures was investigated in detail. The morphological structu res of the plasma-grafted membranes depended on the monomer reactivity , plasma treatment manner, and graft polymerization conditions. Pervap oration properties were closely related to the graft monomers and the morphological structures. The poly(glycidyl methacrylate)-grafted memb ranes prepared by homogeneous both sides plasma treatment and under mi ld polymerization conditions showed the highest pervaporation performa nce with a permeation flux of 0.3 kg/(m(2) h) and separation factor of 22 at 60 wt % benzene and 70 degrees C. (C) 1998 John Wiley & Sons, I nc.