Polyvinylidenefluoride/Poly(styrene-butadiene-styrene)/Silver Nanoparticle-<i>grafted-</i>Acid Chloride Functional MWCNTs-Based Nanocomposites: Preparation and Properties

Abstract

A new type of nanofiltration membranes was synthesized using solution blending polyvinylidine fluoride (PVDF) and poly(styrene-butadiene-styrene) with acid chloride-modified multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs-COCl) and acid chloride-modified nanotbes-grafted-silver nanoparticles (MWNTs-COCl-Ag). SEM of PVDF/SBS-MWCNTs-COCl-Ag nanocomposite membranes showed polymer-coated Ag particles grafted on the surface. Tensile testing depicted the enhanced mechanical stability of PVDF/SBS-MWCNTs-COCl-Ag membranes around 18.8–22.4 MPa relative to PVDF/SBS-MWCNTs-COCl (10.1–13.3 MPa). 0.1 wt.% MWCNTs-COCl-Ag also enhanced the water permeability of membrane. Moreover, acid chloride-modified MWCNTs and Ag nanoparticles enhanced thermal properties to T0 of 358°C, T10 of 476°C and Tmax around 599°C.