Improving Wettability: Deposition of TiO(2) Nanoparticles on the O(2) Plasma Activated Polypropylene Membrane

Radio frequency plasma is one of the means to modify the polymer surface namely in the activation of polypropylene membranes (PPM) with O(2) plasma. Activated membranes were deposited with TiO(2) nanoparticles by the dip coating method and the bare sample and modified sample (PPM5-TiO(2)) were irradiated by UV lamps for 20–120 min. Characterization techniques such as X-ray diffraction (XRD), Attenuated total reflection technique- Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR), Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Scanning electron microscope (SEM) and water contact angle (WCA) measurements were applied to study the alteration of ensuing membrane surface properties which shows the nanoparticles on the sample surface including the presence of Ti on PPM. The WCA decreased from 135° (PPM) to 90° (PPM5-TiO(2)) and after UV irradiation, the WCA of PPM5-TiO(2) diminished from 90° to 40°.