Surface and mechanical properties of microporous membranes of poly(ethylene glycol)–polydimethylsiloxane copolymer/chitosan

Poly(ethylene glycol)–polydimethylsiloxane (PEG–PDMS) block copolymers were prepared via a condensation reaction between PEG diacid and PDMS diol. PEG diacid was synthesized from the reaction between hydroxy-terminated PEG and succinic anhydride. PDMS diol was prepared from the ring-opening polymerization of octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane (D4) followed by hydrosilylation with allyl alcohol. The copolymers were incorporated into chitosan in order that good water swellability and wettability of chitosan were retained due to hydrophilic PEG blocks, whereas PDMS block in the copolymers functioned as a toughening modifier. Percent crosslinking of 66–84 was observed once 5–10 wt% of the copolymers was incorporated. As compared to the unmodified sample, the copolymer-containing chitosan exhibited the decreases in both water contact angles and the rate of water vapor permeability. The studies on tensile properties indicated that incorporation of copolymers into chitosan improved the flexibility of the films.