Surface Modification of Polyethersulfone (PES) with UV Photo-Oxidation

Abstract

Polyethersulfone (PES) films are widely employed in the construction of membranes where there is a desire to make the surface more hydrophilic. Therefore, UV photo-oxidation was studied in order to oxidize the surface of PES and increase hydrophilicity. UV photo-oxidation using low pressure mercury lamps emitting both 253.7 and 184.9 nm radiation were compared with only 253.7 nm photons. The modified surfaces were characterized using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), atomic force microscopy (AFM), and water contact angle (WCA) measurements. Both sets of lamps gave similar results, showing an increase of the oxygen concentration up to a saturation level of ca. 29 at.% and a decrease in the WCA, i.e., an increase in hydrophilicity, down to ca. 40°. XPS detected a decrease of sp2 C-C aromatic group bonding and an increase in the formation of C-O, C=O, O=C-O, O=C-OH, O-(C=O)-O, and sulphonate and sulphate moieties. Since little change in surface roughness was observed by AFM, the oxidation of the surface caused the increase in hydrophilicity.