Surface Engineering of Polymer Membranes

Surface Engineering of Polymer Membranes covers the processes that modify membrane surfaces to improve their in-service performance, meaning, to confer surface properties which are different from the bulk properties. Purposes may be to minimize fouling, modulate hydrophilicity/ hydrophobicity, enhance biocompatibility, create diffusion barriers, provide functionalities, mimic biomembranes, fabricate nanostructures, etc. First, the basics of surface engineering of polymer membranes are covered. Then topics such as surface modification by graft polymerization and macromolecule immobilization, biomimetic surfaces, enzyme immobilization, molecular recognition, and nanostructured surfaces are discussed. This book provides a unique synthesis of the knowledge of the role of surface chemistry and physics in membrane science.
Dr. Zhikang Xu of the Institute of Polymer Science of Zhejiang University has eight Chinese patents and in 2006 was honored as a Distinguished Young Scholar by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NNSFC).

Presents comprehensive studies on the chemical and physical behaviors of membrane surfaces

Introduction.- Functionalization methods for the membrane surfaces.- Characterization of structure and properties for the membrane surfaces.- Surface modification by Graft polymerization.- Surface modification by macromolecule immobilization.- Membranes with phospholipid analogous surfaces.- Membranes with glycosylated surfaces.- Membranes with biocatalytic surfaces.- Molecular imprinting on the membrane surface.- Nanofibrous membrane with functionalized surface.