Hydrophilic surface modification of DPVC nanofibrous membrane by free-radical graft polymerization

We introduced a novelty and mild method for preparing four different hydrophilic polymers (PVP, PAA, PDMAEMA, and PAM) grafted to DPVC fibrous membrane surface. To increase active sites and improve the grafting efficiency of hydrophilic polymer on PVC membrane, PVC resin was slightly dehydrochlorinated, forming a few conjugated double bonds. A minor reduction in the DPVC average molecular weight in a short dehydrochlorination time exerted minimal influence on the DPVC electrospinning process and fiber morphology. Results of ATR-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and surface wettability of modified membranes proved that hydrophilic polymers were successfully grafted covalently on the surface of the DPVC nanofibrous membrane. The hydrophilicity of the modified DPVC fibrous membrane was evidently improved. This hydrophilic DPVC fibrous membrane may fulfill potential requirements in tissue engineering and wastewater treatment.