Hydrophilic modification of HDPE microfiltration membrane by corona-induced graft polymerization

Hydrophilic modification of high-density polyethylene membrane was performed with the introduction of peroxide onto the membrane surface by corona discharge treatment, followed by graft polymerization with acrylic acid. The surface graft polymerization was confirmed by attenuated total reflection-infrared and X-ray photo spectroscopy. Surface hydrophilicity was investigated by measuring the contact angles and moisture adsorption of the modified membrane. The results indicated that the modified membrane showed a significant increase in hydrophilicity. And water flux of the film increased from 102 L/m(2) h of the virgin film to 200 L/m(2) h of the grafted film, while the bovine serum albumin solution flux of the membrane increased from 43 L/m(2) h of the virgin film to 98 L/m(2) h of the modified membrane.