Membrane from a blend of quaternised starch/polyvinyl alcohol/polysulfone/TEOS: Formulation and characterisation
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.24191/mjcet.v9i2.11216Keywords:
Crosslinking, Mechanical properties, Water uptake, Quaternised starchAbstract
This study reported on the formulation and characterisation of hybrid membranes from a blend of quaternised starch (QSs), poly (vinyl alcohol) (PVA), polysulfide (PSF), and crosslinked with tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS). Starch quaternisation was conducted to overcome the brittleness and enhance the properties of the starch. TEOS was used to enhance the membrane’s structural integrity and mechanical stability. In this study, the effect of varying the loadings of the quaternizing agent (hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB)) at 20, 30, and 40 g, together with varying the TEOS concentrations at 1, 3, and 5 wt%, respectively was evaluated for the functional groups, mechanical properties, and water uptake of the membranes. Results show that a successful development of silica networks and strong connections between the polymer matrix and TEOS-derived silica through Si–O–Si and Si–O–C linkages were demonstrated through FTIR. A membrane containing 40 g CTAB with 1 wt% TEOS (M7) was found to be the best formulation, possessing high tensile strength (35 MPa) and good elongation, with a moderate elastic modulus (664 MPa) and the lowest water uptake. This membrane has the potential to be used as a membrane material that requires ductile behaviour with good structural stability.
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