3D laser scanning confocal microscopy of siloxane-based comb and double-comb polymers in PVDF-HFP thin films

• Currently, atomic force microscopy is the preferred technique to determine roughness on membrane surfaces. In this paper, a new method to measure surface roughness is presented using a 3D laser scanning confocal microscope for high-resolution topographic analysis and is compared to conventional SEM. For this study, the surfaces of eight samples based on a poly(vinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene) (PVDF-HFP) host polymer with different liquid interpenetrating components were analyzed. Polymethylhydrosiloxane, triethylene glycolallylmethyether, (3,3,3-trifluoropropyl) methylcyclotrisiloxane (D-3-C2H4CF3), polysiloxane-comb-propyloxymethoxytriglycol (PSx), poly-siloxane-comb-propyl-3,3,3-trifluoro (PSx-C2H4CF3), poly [bis(2-(2-methoxyethoxy) ethoxy) phosphazene, or poly [bis(trifluoro) ethoxy] phosphazene was chosen as interpenetrating compound to investigate the impact of comb and double-comb-structured polymer backbones, as well as their dipolar or fluorous residues on the PVDF-HFP-miscibility. Different phases of the constituting ingredients were identified via their thermal properties determined by DSC. Additionally, the COSMO-RS method supported the experimental results, and with regard to computed sigma-profiles, new modified structures for polysiloxane and polyphosphazene synthesis were suggested.

Subject headings

NATURVETENSKAP  -- Kemi -- Polymerkemi (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Chemical Sciences -- Polymer Chemistry (hsv//eng)

TEKNIK OCH TEKNOLOGIER  -- Kemiteknik -- Polymerteknologi (hsv//swe)

ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY  -- Chemical Engineering -- Polymer Technologies (hsv//eng)

NATURVETENSKAP  -- Fysik -- Annan fysik (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Physical Sciences -- Other Physics Topics (hsv//eng)

Keyword

comb and double-comb polymers

Polymer electrolyte

Thin film

3D laser scanning confocal microscopy

Publication and Content Type

art (subject category)

ref (subject category)