FTIR Spectroscopy for Molecular Level Description of Water Vapor Sorption in Two Hydrophobic Polymers

Abstract

This work aims to investigate the sorption of water vapor in two hydrophobic polymers, i.e., polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) and polyurethane (PU) with water contact of 119 and 104, respectively, by using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy combined with gravimetric analysis. Sample spectra were measured in a controlled humidity cell. Results demonstrated the absence of water molecules in PTFE after exposure to 100% RH for 2 hours. In contrast, the spectroscopic data provided strong evidence that PU film continued to sorb water as exposure time increased. The interaction between water molecules and PU polymer chain was characterized by the dynamics of hydrogen bonding. The hydrogen bonding between N-H and C=O groups was reduced by the sorbed water, as evidenced by the shift of NH to a higher frequency. Second derivative of difference spectra suggested the presence of multiple water species involved in different types of hydrogen bonding interaction at water/PU interface. Results also revealed that the sorbed water in PU film cannot be eliminated via evaporation at room temperature.