Performance prediction of polyvinylidene fluoride membrane materials after natural and artificially accelerated aging

This study investigates the performance degradation and prediction of polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) membrane materials under natural aging conditions (2 MPa prestress) and artificially accelerated aging conditions. Initially, the tensile strength, elongation at break, elastic modulus, tear strength, and apparent properties (transmittance, reflectivity, and conjugated double bond absorption area) of the membrane material were measured through uniaxial tensile testing, trapezoidal tear testing, and ultraviolet (UV) testing. These measurement results were then compared and analyzed in relation to tear strength and apparent properties under artificially accelerated aging conditions. The results indicate that UV irradiation and 2 MPa prestress play a crucial role in the degradation of PVDF membrane material properties. Finally, an enhanced Arrhenius equation, accounting for the triple effects of irradiation, oxygen pressure, and temperature, and Schwarzschild’s law, were employed to establish a correlation between natural (2 MPa prestress) and artificially accelerated aging performance of PVDF. The results demonstrate that the enhanced Arrhenius equation provides a more accurate prediction compared to Schwarzschild’s law.