Structural and performance variation of activated carbon‐polymer films

Activated carbon particles were obtained by a solvatation method and added as fillers in cellulose triacetate as polymeric matrix. Various composite films were prepared by solvent casting at different controlled temperature and relative humidity (35–55° C, 10–70% RH) conditions, for three different filler loadings (0, 1 and 3%). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images revealed that for slow solvent evaporation rates (low temperature and high RH) a non‐agglomerated composite film is achieved. This condition observed in SEM was correlated to the film with the best mechanical properties found by stress‐strain and creep tests. Water flux and mechanical resistance is also higher for the membrane obtained at the best synthesis conditions found (M1) (35°C, 70% RH). Contact angle measurements indicated that there is differentiation among membranes of different carbon loading respect to M1, associated to surface homogeneity. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) images showed structural variation among membranes (M1 and its counterpart without carbon) in the nanoscale. Contrast phase AFM analysis exposed homogeneous dispersion of activated carbon particles on membrane M1. Major adhesion between entangled polymer network and activated carbon is postulated as the main factor for the composite polymer proper structural performance.