Hydrophilization and hydrophobic recovery in polymers obtained by casting of polymer solutions on water surface

Edward Bormashenko, Gilad Chaniel, Oleg Gendelman

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

13 Scopus citations

Abstract

We demonstrate the possibility of hydrophilization of polymer films in situ under the process of their preparation. The polymer surface is hydrophilized when the polymer solution is spread on the water surface and the solvent is evaporated. Essential hydrophilization of the polymer surface is achieved under this process. We relate the observed hydrophilization of polymer films to the dipole-dipole interaction of the polar moieties of polymer chains with highly polar water molecules. The dipole-dipole interaction between water molecules and polar groups of polymer chains, orienting the polar groups of a polymer, may prevail over the London dispersion forces. The process, reported in the paper, allows to manufacture the films in which the hydrophilic moieties of the polymer molecule are oriented toward the polymer/air interface. It is demonstrated that even such traditionally extremely hydrophobic polymers as polydimethylsiloxane can be markedly hydrophilized. This hydrophilization, however, does not persist forever. After removal from the water surface, hydrophobic recovery was observed, i.e. polymer films restored their hydrophobicity with time. The characteristic time of the hydrophobic recovery is on the order of magnitude of hours.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)192-197
Number of pages6
JournalJournal of Colloid and Interface Science
Volume435
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Dec 2014

Keywords

  • Dipole-dipole interaction
  • Hydrophilization
  • Hydrophobic recovery
  • Polar groups
  • Polymers
  • Water casting

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