Effects of irradiation with vacuum ultraviolet xenon excimer lamp at 172nm on water vapor transport through poly(lactic acid) membranes

Abstract

The diffusivity, solubility, and permeability of water vapor and nitrogen were systematically investigated for Vacuum Ultraviolet (VUV)-irradiated poly(lactic acid) (PLA) membranes by a xenon excimer lamp at 172. nm. The photon was completely absorbed in the surface membrane, and the VUV irradiation did not depend on the color center and bulk structure of the PLA membrane. Additionally, surface hydrophilicity increased in the irradiation time range of 0-10. min and settled at a steady state in the irradiation time range of 30-100. min. We discovered the surface photo-oxidation, scission reaction, and crystallization of PLA membranes by VUV irradiation. The PLA chemical structure changed as c..