CO-60 GAMMA-RAY IRRADIATION MODIFIED POLY(4-METHYL-1-PENTENE) MEMBRANE FOR OXYGENATOR

To improve the blood compatibility, this study utilizes Co-60 gamma irradiation to graft 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA), acrylamide (AAm) and acrylic acid (AAc) onto the blended membranes of poly(4-methyl-1-pentene)/poly(dimethylsiloxane) (TPX/PDMS). The grafted membranes possess high permeabilities of oxygen and carbon dioxide. The effects of inhibitor concentration, kinds of solvent, monomer concentration and irradiation time on the degree of grafting for the Co-60 gamma irradiation membranes were investigated. A high ps permeability and blood compatibility grafted membrane was successfully prepared. For example, the permeabilities of 57.91 and 197.32 barrers [1 barrer = 1 x 10(-10) (cm3 at STP) (cm thickness)/(cm2 area)-sec-(cmHg)] for oxygen and carbon dioxide, respectively, and the adsorbed mole ratio of fibrinogen to albumin of 0.27 can be obtained for PHEMA-hetero-g-TPX membranes with 119.61% degree of grafting. The results indicated that the prepared membranes are feasible as oxygenator membrane materials.