Comparison of Tensile Strength of Polyethersulfone Membrane and Titanium Dioxide with Polyvinylidene Fluoride Membrane and Titanium Dioxide

Abstract

This study aims to compare membrane tensile strength between polyethersulfone (PES) and polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) after blending with titanium dioxide. This type of research is a laboratory experiment. The main ingredients in this study consisted of polyethersulfone (PES), polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), titanium dioxide (TiO2), and dimethylformamide (DMF). Each specimen was blended with 2% titanium dioxide using the 15,000V DC Electric Field method. Several times, this research was conducted by testing the membrane preparation against polyethersulfone (PES) and polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF). In this case, each sample consisted of three specimens with the weight fraction (wt%), the ratio of the combination, and addictive substances. Polyethersulfone (PES) with concentrations of PES@TiO2 25 wt%, 30 wt%, and 35 wt%. Polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) with concentrations of PVDF@TiO2 21 wt%, 22 wt%, and 23 wt%. The tensile strength test of the membrane showed that PES@TiO2 25 wt% yields 0.414 MPa, PES@TiO2 30 wt% yields 0.418 MPa, and PES@TiO2 35 wt% yields 0.617 MPa. Furthermore, PVDF@TiO2 21 wt% yields 2.335 MPa, PVDF@TiO2 22 wt% yields 3.153 MPa, and PVDF@TiO2 23 wt% yields 3.200 MPa. The results showed that the maximum tensile strength of PVDF@TiO2 membrane with a concentration of 23 wt% was more significant than the maximum tensile strength of PES@TiO2 membrane with a concentration of 35 wt%. Therefore, the PVDF membrane has better mechanical strength than the PES membrane with the same blending with titanium dioxide 2%.