In a push towards more environmentally friendly pyrotechnics, new greener pyrotechnic compositions need to be developed. A primary goal is to replace components such as lead, barium, and chromium in pyrotechnic compositions. Fused Deposition Modelling (FDM) is a 3D printing/additive manufacturing method whereby a thin filament is passed through a heated nozzle, and extruded onto a substrate in successive layers. This method of manufacturing could be used to produce pyrotechnic time delays based on suitable “green” polymer/fuel mixtures. Fluoropolymers are an attractive oxidising system for pyrotechnic use as fluorine is highly reactive and reacts relatively easily with common metallic fuels such as aluminium and magnesium to release a large amount of energy. Fluoropolymers are already in use as oxidisers and binders, especially in infrared decoy flares. PTFE has found wide use in the pyrotechnics industry, but is not melt-processible. A similar fluoropolymer, poly(chloro-trifluoroethylene) (PCTFE) was considered instead. PCTFE differs from PTFE in that one of the fluorine atoms in the TFE monomer has been replaced by a chlorine atom. The larger chlorine atom interferes with the packing of the polymer chains during polymerisation and, as such, may make it easier to process than PTFE. It was found that pure PCTFE degraded heavily during processing and was therefore precluded from any further study. Melt-processible copolymers containing PCTFE are available from industry. These copolymers contain vinylidene fluoride (VDF) in addition to the CTFE i.e. poly(CTFE-co-VDF). Two grades of copolymer were obtained from 3M: FK-800® resin and Dyneon® 31508 resin. These two polymers contain different ratios of CTFE to VDF. FK-800® resin was successfully extruded and showed minimal signs of degradation. Pyrotechnic films, containing aluminium powder as the fuel, were cast with both polymers using solvent techniques. Differential thermal analysis (DTA) was used to determine the ignition points of the compositions. All of the FK-800®-based compositions ignited at approximately 450 °C whilst all the Dyneon® 31508-based compositions ignited at approximately 400 °C. The energy output of the compositions was determined using bomb calorimetry. The experimental energy outputs of the FK-800®-based compositions correlated well with the predictions from the thermodynamic simulations. The maximum energy output, ~7.0 MJ∙kg1, occurred at a fuel loading between 30 – 35 wt.%. Except for one composition, the Dyneon® 31508-based compositions did not ignite in the bomb calorimeter. FK-800® was successfully extruded into a filament and showed minimal signs of degradation. In order to assess the impact of adding a solid filler on the mechanical properties and extrudability of the polymer, magnesium hydroxide was used as inactive model compound in place of aluminium. A filament of FK-800® and Mg(OH)2 was successfully compounded and produced using a filler loading of 30 wt.%. Compounding of the Dyneon 31508® with the magnesium hydroxide was unsuccessful. Addition of LFC-1® liquid fluoroelastomer improved the processibility of the Dyneon 31508® by lowering the melt viscosity. / Dissertation (MEng)--University of Pretoria, 2017. / Chemical Engineering / MEng / Unrestricted

Cette thèse décrit comment la morphologie et le polymorphisme de membranes en fluorure de poly(vinylidène) (PVDF) préparées par séparation de phase induite par la vapeur d'eau (VIPS) et par un non-solvant liquide peuvent être ajustés par la température à laquelle le PVDF est dissous (Tdis) pour former la solution de coulée. Les résultats montrent que Tdis présente une transition, notée comme la température de dissolution critique (Tcri), à partir de laquelle la morphologie et le polymorphisme des membranes changent radicalement. Ce phénomène observé pour les trois solvants, N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP), dimethylacetamide (DMAc), and N,M-dimethylformamide (DMF), et les non-solvants (eau et une série d'alcools) utilisés dans cette étude peut être considéré comme général. La cristallisation a lieu avant la démixtion L-L quelle que soit Tdis. Pour une Tdis supérieure à Tcri, les membranes se présentent sous forme de nodules (cristallite forme beta) dont la taille décroît lorsque Tdis diminue. Ce domaine a été dénommé "à grossissement libre" car les chaînes de polymère peuvent cristalliser librement pendant la séparation de phase. Pour une Tdis inférieure à Tcri, des membranes avec une structure bi-continue (cristallite forme alpha) sont obtenues. Ce domaine a été appelé "à grossissement empêché" dans la mesure où la séparation de phase s'accompagne d'une gélification. Nous avons démontré que la morphologie et le polymorphisme cristallin des membranes de PVDF peuvent ainsi être contrôlés par la Tdis et la vitesse d'échange avec le non-solvant. Ces résultats sont interprétés en termes d'auto germination et de compétition entre gélification, cristallisation et démixtion L-L. / This dissertation shows how the morphology and polymorphism of poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) membranes prepared by using vapor-induced phase separation (VIPS) and liquid-induced phase separation (LIPS) were tuned by varying the dissolution temperature at which PVDF was dissolved (Tdis) to form the casting solution. We observed a transition temperature denoted by critical dissolution temperature, Tcri, across which the morphology and polymorphism of membranes (obtained by VIPS) drastically changed. The phenomenon was considered as general, as a Tcri was observed for all the three solvents N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP), dimethylacetamide (DMAc), and N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) and the non-solvents, water and a series of alcohols, used in the present study. No matter which Tdis we used, polymer crystallization occurred prior to the L-L demixing. With Tdis above Tcri, the prepared membranes were composed of nodules (mainly in beta crystalline form) and the size of polymer domains decreased as the Tdis decreased. Because the polymer chains could freely coarsen to a large domain during the phase separation, we called the system free coarsening. With Tdis below Tcri, membranes with lacy (bi-continuous) structure (mainly in alpha crystalline form) were obtained. Because the polymer solution gelled during the phase separation, we called the system hindered coarsening. It was proven that PVDF membrane morphology and crystalline polymorphs can be monitored by Tdis and the solvent-nonsolvent exchange rate. These results were discussed in terms of self-seeding effect and competition between the gelation, crystallisation and L-L demixing.

The main purpose of this thesis was to investigate and characterize the use of piezoelectric yarn for use in textile (fingertip) pressure sensors in glove applications. Such applications could include healthcare, security and safety, game applications or intelligent control. Piezoelectric materials generate a voltage when pressed or squeezed. Poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) is a polymorphic material with piezoelectric properties. PVDF yarns were integrated into block sensors. These blocks consist of thermoplastic material glued to a knitted supporting fabric. The electrical signal given off by the PVDF yarn was measured with the help of an oscilloscope. The block sensor generated a distinguishable signal under a dynamic compression of 0.003 N, indicating that the structure is sensitive enough compared to the average male fingertip sensitivity threshold (0.0054N). / Program: Master programme in Textile Engineering

Arbetet syftar till att skapa en prototyp av en textil trycksensor som kan känna av och skilja på olika typer av belastning. En lämplig metod för att på ett vetenskapligt sätt testa sagda prototyp har också utvecklats. Prototypen har tillverkats för hand på en datoriserad vävstol och de ingående materialen är piezoelektrisk poly(vinyldifluorid), PVDF, tvinnad tillsammans med ett konduktivt garn, Shieldex®, samt polyester. När PVDF-fiber utsätts för töjning genererar de en spänning, vars storlek står i relation till töjningen. Den vävda konstruktion som valdes till prototypen är en distansvara där väftinläggen lagts in i 7 olika lager för att skapa volym. Därmed möjliggörs en töjning av PVDF-fibern som relaterar till trycket strukturen utsätts för. För att utvärdera strukturen skapades tre likadana trycksensorer innehållandes fyra PVDF-fiber som lagts in med ett mellanrum på ca 1,5 cm. Dessa prototyper har sedan fästs på en egentillverkad ramp och PVDF- samt Shieldex®-garnet har kopplats in till ett oscilloskop. Därefter har vikter rullats över prototypen för att generera spänning, vilken har kunnat uppmätas med oscilloskopet. De uppmätta resultaten har analyserats och utvärderats med hjälp av Excel. Testerna visade tydligt att spänningen som uppmättes stod i relation till vikternas storlek; högre vikter gav en mätbart större spänning. Det finns dock stor varians bland resultaten och utvärdering av samtliga prover visar på stora standardavvikelser hos samtliga fiber. Detta innebär att även om det är tydligt att ökad vikt medför ökad signal så kan det finnas svårigheter i att avgöra storleken på vikten utifrån den uppmätta spänningen. / The aim of this project was to create a sensor in textile material which can register and recognize different kinds of pressure. A suitable method has been developed in order to scientifically investigate and evaluate the sensitivity of the prototypes. The prototypes have been produced with a computerized hand weave machine and the materials used were polyester and piezoelectric PVDF-fiber, twisted with a conductive yarn, Shieldex®. When a force is applied to the PVDF-fiber, causing an extension of the fiber, a voltage is generated directly related to the applied force. The final prototype is a woven textile with integrated monofilaments and weft inserted in seven different layers to create a voluminous structure. An extension by the PVDF-fiber is there by enabled to occur which is related to the force applied onto the structure. Three equable prototypes were produced, each consisting four separated PVDF-fibers which were inserted with a distance of 1, 5 cm from each other. The prototypes were further attached one by one on a homemade ramp and the PVDF- and Shieldex®-fibers were connected to an oscilloscope. Different weights were then rolled from the top of the ramp, generating a voltage each time it pressures a fiber, which were seen on the computer software of the oscilloscope. The results were afterwards analyzed and evaluated using Excel. A clear relationship between applied force and generated voltage is shown although there is a great variety among the test results on each weight along with large standard deviations. The exact weight generating a specific voltage is therefore difficult to determine.

Poly (2-ethyl-2-oxazoline)-based amphiphilic diblock copolymer has the potential to form promising membrane materials for water purification due to the thermal stability and good solubility in aqueous solution and also for gas separation because of the presence of polar amide group along the polymer backbone. Moreover, their self-assembly into micelles renders them candidate materials as nanocarriers for drug delivery applications. In this study, a novel well-defined linear PEtOx-based amphiphilic diblock copolymer with a hydrophobic fluoropolymer, i.e., PVDF, have been successfully synthesized by implementing a synthesis methodology that involves the following four steps. In the first step, poly (2-ethyl-2-oxazoline) (PEtOx) was synthesized via living cationic ring-opening polymerization (LCROP) of 2-ethyl-2-oxazoline (EtOx) monomer. The “living” nature of LCROP allows the desirable termination to occur by using the proper termination agent, namely, water, to achieve the polymer with a terminal hydroxyl group, i.e., PEtOx-OH. The hydroxyl end group in PEtOx-OH was converted to PEtOx-Br using 2-bromopropionyl bromide via an esterification reaction. In the third step, the PEtOx-Br macro-CTA was subsequently reacted with potassium ethyl xanthate to insert the necessary RAFT agent via nucleophilic substitution reaction to obtain PEtOx-Xanthate. It s worth mentioning that this step is vital for the sequential addition of the second block via the RAFT polymerization reaction of fluorinated monomer, i.e., VDF, to finally obtain the well-defined amphiphilic diblock copolymer with variable controlled chain lengths. Proton Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (1H-NMR) and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR) confirmed the structure of the macroinitiator and final copolymer, respectively. Size Exclusion Chromatography (SEC) determined the number-average molecular weight (Mn) and the polydispersity index (PDI) of the obtained copolymer. Furthermore, the polymorphism of the diblock copolymer characterized by X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) indicated that the copolymer displays the electroactive α-phase. The resultant amphiphilic diblock copolymer exhibits spherical micelles morphology, as confirmed by Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS) and Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM). Moreover, Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA) and Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) investigated the thermal decomposition behavior of the copolymer and determined the glass transition temperature (Tg ≈ 70 °C), melting temperature (Tm ≈ 160-170 °C), and crystallization temperature (Tc ≈ 135-143 °C) of the diblock copolymer, respectively.

Amphiphilic block copolymers based on poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) and poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) were synthesized by RAFT polymerization. The commercial poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether (Me-PEG-OH, 20 Kg/mol) and difunctional polyethylene glycol (OH-PEG-OH, 20 Kg/mol) were used to synthesize diblock copolymers (Me-PEG-b-PVDF), and triblock copolymers (PVDF-b-PEG-b-PVDF) respectively. For the synthesis, the esterification reaction followed by the SN2 reaction was employed to make macro CTA (Me-PEG-XA, XA-PEG-XA, XA refers to the xanthate group). The macro CTAs were used further for VDF polymerization in dimethyl carbonate (DMC) inside the autoclave. Different molecular weights of the PVDF block (whether in the diblocks or the tribolcks) were obtained based on changes in the reaction time. The resulting block copolymers were molecularly characterized by FT-IR, 1H,19F-NMR, and SEC. The thermal properties were studied by DSC and TGA. Furthermore, the crystalline phase characterization was investigated by XRD and FT-IR. Being the obtained block copolymers are amphiphilic, their self-assembly was achieved by nanoprecipitation in DMF/water, and they were analyzed by DLS and TEM.

L’objectif de ce travail est d'envisager les modifications de formulation ou de procédé dans la technologie de geltrusion développée par Batscap pour augmenter la fiabilité des supercondensateurs en limitant l'autodécharge. La technologie repose sur l’extrusion simultanée de polymères (PVDF, PVDF-HFP), d’un solvant (PC) et de charges (CA, NC). Le mélange réalisé en extrusion bivis est ensuite filmé et laminé sur le collecteur en aluminium. Dès lors, il a été fondamental de chercher à comprendre les interactions entre les différents composants de l’électrode, avec l’étude de la miscibilité du système ternaire polymère/polymère/solvant puis l’étude de l’adsorption du solvant sur les charges. Cette démarche a permis une meilleure compréhension des phénomènes impliqués en passant par une caractérisation approfondie du complexe, dans sa formulation actuelle aux différentes étapes du procédé. Ensuite, des modifications de formulations ont été envisagées. En particulier, l'effet de la structure et de la masse molaire des polymères sur l’adhésion a été étudié. Dans tous les cas, il a été envisagé de tester les possibilités offertes par l'utilisation d'un solvant différent (DMSO). Ce dernier étant un meilleur solvant du PVDF est plus facile à éliminer que le PC. Enfin, à partir des données rhéologiques du mélange, une modélisation mécanique, en utilisant le modèle de Maxwell à plusieurs temps de relaxation, a été menée dans l'opération de laminage du mélange en prenant en compte un comportement viscoélastique du gel. Toutes ces études ont permis de conclure sur les modifications pertinentes de la formulation ainsi que des conditions du procédé / The objective of this work is to consider changes in formulation or process of the geltrusion technology developed by Batscap to increase the reliability of supercapacitors by limiting self-discharge. The technology is based on the simultaneous extrusion of polymers (PVDF, PVDF-HFP), solvent (propylene carbonate) and fillers (activated carbon, carbon black). The mixture carried out in a twin-screw extrusion is then filmed and laminated on the aluminium collector. Therefore, it was important to understand the interactions between the different components of the electrode, and especially to study the miscibility of the ternary system polymer/polymer/solvent and also the adsorption of solvent on fillers. This approach has allowed a better understanding of the phenomena involved through a characterization of the complex, in its current form at different stages of the process. Then, changes in formulations were considered. In particular, the effect of the structure and molecular weight of the polymers on adhesion was studied. In all cases, it was envisaged to test the possibilities offered by the use of a different solvent (dimethyl sulfoxide). The latter being a better solvent for the PVDF, is also easier to remove than propylene carbonate. Finally, from the rheological data of the mixture, a mechanical modeling, using the multimodal Maxwell model, was conducted in the lamination step taking into account of the viscoelastic behavior of the gel. All these studies allow us to conclude on the relevant changes in the formulation and process conditions

During this project it was investigated how the newly developed piezoelectric PVDF bicomponent fibre behaved when integrated in different weave constructions. The possibility to integrate conductive yarns as outer electrode was studied in order to see if it was possible to create a fully textile piezoelectric sensors. The piezoelectric properties of the bicomponent fibre is given by the sheath material, which is a polymeric material known as poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF). Today only piezoelectric film made by PVDF is commercially available, but with a flexible PVDF bicomponent fibre it improves the possibility to integrate piezoelectric material into a textile construction. In this study the PVDF bicomponent fibre was integrated in the warp direction into weave constructions, such as plain weave, twill and weft rib. All the woven bands included 60 PVDF bicomponent yarns, with 24 filaments in each bundle and the average width of the bands produced was 30 mm. Different conductive materials and fibres, acting as outer electrode, were coated or integrated together with the PVDF fibre and the behaviour of the PVDF fibres was analysed. All the woven samples went through corona poling with a voltage of 7 kV in 70 ⁰C for 3 min. The weave construction that gave highest piezoelectric output signal was twill with weft that has low tex. The twill construction gave a range amplitude of 1.5- 3.3 V when subjected to a dynamic strain of about 0.25% at 4 Hz. It was shown that different conductive materials influenced the PVDF fibre in different ways, due to the resistance of the material. It was also shown that it was possible to integrate piezoelectric bicomponent fibre into a textile construction and that a fully textile piezoelectric sensor could be produced by using conductive yarns as outer electrode. / Program: Masterutbildning i textilteknik,

O aumento da longevidade da população mundial vem acompanhado do aumento da incidência de doenças crônicas. Várias são as doenças que podem acometer esta população e entre estas, a osteoporose, que compromete a resistência e qualidade do tecido ósseo, predispondo a fraturas. Além disso, a osteoporose pode dificultar a reparação óssea. Uma técnica importante e que tem por objetivo a neoformação óssea é a regeneração óssea guiada (ROG), que utiliza uma membrana que atua como uma barreira mecânica, permitindo a criação de um espaço protegido em torno do defeito ósseo. Embora a membrana de politetrafluoretileno (PTFE) seja uma das mais utilizadas na ROG, novas membranas têm sido desenvolvidas dentre elas a membrana obtida pela associação do polímero de poli(vinilideno-trifluoretileno) e da cerâmica de titanato de bário (P(VDF-TrFE)/BT). Estudos in vitro demonstraram resultados favoráveis à membrana de P(VDF-TrFE)/BT. Desta forma, o objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar in vivo, o efeito da membrana de poli(vinilidenotrifluoretileno)/titanato de bário (P(VDF-TrFE)/BT), e como controle a de PTFE no reparo ósseo em ratas com modelo experimental para a osteoporose. Foram utilizados 30 animais, sendo 5 pertencentes ao grupo controle - Grupo 1 (G1) e 25 que foram ovariectomizados bilateralmente (OVX). Após 150 dias foram confeccionados defeitos ósseos (5 mm) na calvária e os animais OVX foram distribuídos em três grupos com relação à utilização ou não de membranas nos defeitos ósseos: Grupo 2 - nenhum tipo de membrana; Grupo 3 - membrana de PTFE e Grupo 4 - membrana de P(VDF-TrFE)/BT. Após 4 semanas, os animais foram eutanasiados e as calvárias foram coletadas para as análises histológica, histomorfométrica por micro-CT e de expressão gênica por PCR em tempo real. A análise histomorfométrica mostrou que os animais que receberam a membrana de P(VDF-TrFE)/BT apresentaram parâmetros morfométricos semelhantes ou até melhores quando comparados com os animais que receberam a membrana de PTFE. A comparação dos grupos que receberam as membranas mostrou para o grupo P(VDF-TrFE)/BT uma menor expressão para os genes RUNX2, BSP, OPN, OSX e RANKL; uma expressão semelhante para os genes ALP, OC, RANK e CTSK e uma maior expressão dos genes OPG, CALCR e MMP9. Estes resultados evidenciam que a membrana de P(VDF-TrFE)/BT pode ser considerada um biomaterial promissor para a reparação óssea em condições de osteoporose / The worldwide population age is increasing accomplished by chronic disease. The most common disease which involves the population is the osteoporosis. The bone resistance and quality of bone matrix are compromised and the fractures risks are higher. Nonetheless, the osteoporosis can avoid the bone healing. The important technique to achieve the bone neoformation is the Bone Guided Regeneration (BGR), which used a membrane as mechanic barrier to allow the new gap protection around the bone defect. Although the politetrafluoetilene (PTFE) is the most used in BGR, newest membranes have been developed as the polyvinylidene-trifluoroethylene polymer and barium titanate ceramics (P(VDF-TrFE)/BT). In vitro assays showed favorable results to P(VDF-TrFE)/BT membrane. The aim of the study was to evaluate the poly(vinylidene fluoride-trifluoroethylene)/barium titanate (P(VDF-TrFE)/BT) effects, and the PTFE has been used as control on the bone repair in the osteoporosis experimental rats model. It was used 30 animals, 5 on the control group- Group 1 (G1) and 25 were ovariectomized bilaterally (OVX). Bone gaps were done 5mm size on the rats calvaria´s and the (OVX) were housed in three different groups concerned by membranes applied or not at the bone gap. Group 2 no membrane applied; Group 3 PTFE membrane and Group 4 P(VDF-TrFE)/BT membrane. Four weeks later, the animals were euthanized and the calvarias were collected to the histological analysis, histomorphometric assays by micro CT and the gene expression by the real time PCR. The histomorphometric analysis showed that the animals which received P(VDF-TrFE)/BT membrane presented similar morphometric parameters better than PTFE. The P(VDF-TrFE)/BT showed a minor expression to RUNX2, BSP, OPN, OSX e RANKL genes; the similar were to RANK e CTSK and the higher expression were to OPG, CALCR e MMP9. These results evidence that the P(VDF-TrFE)/BT could be used as promising biomaterial to bone healing under osteoporosis

Esta pesquisa foi desenvolvida no laboratório do Centro Internacional de Referência em Reúso de Água (CIRRA), vinculado ao Departamento de Engenharia Hidráulica e Ambiental da Escola Politécnica da Universidade de São Paulo (USP). O projeto de pesquisa teve como objetivo principal a síntese de membranas planas compostas, utilizando o polímero fluoreto de polivinilideno (PVDF), nanopartículas inorgânicas de argila (montmorilonita hidrofílica) e óxido de polietileno (PEO). As membranas foram sintetizadas pelo processo de inversão de fases, utilizando 18% em massa de PVDF, n-metil-pirrolidona como solvente e água como o não solvente. Avaliou-se a influência da introdução de diferentes concentrações de nanopartículas de argila e PEO. As membranas sintetizadas foram submetidas a testes de avaliação de desempenho (permeabilidade, capacidade de separação, potencial de depósitos) e de caracterização (morfologia e características físicas). Os resultados obtidos indicam que a adição de nanopartículas inorgânicas de argila e o formador de poros PEO melhoraram o desempenho e as características físicas das membranas. As membranas Kynar 761 6% argila 0% PEO (K6-0), Kynar 761 0% argila 4% PEO (K0-4) e Kynar 761 6% argila 4% PEO (K6-4) apresentaram as melhores permeabilidades com um aumento, respectivamente, de 520%, 1.250% e 1.100%, em relação à membrana pura. Além disso, observa-se uma melhora de 55%, 60% e 41% na redução do potencial de depósito, respectivamente, para as membranas K6-0, K0-4 e K6-4, quando comparada a membrana de controle. A melhora da permeabilidade e do potencial de depósito das membranas compostas está relacionada à melhoria da hidrofilicidade e da carga superficiail. A morfologia interna das membranas sintetizadas com argila pode ser caracterizada com uma camada superficial com poros conectados verticalmente aos poros em formas de canais da camada intermediária. A camada inferior possui uma morfologia esponjosa com micro-poros. O aumento da quantidade e tamanho dos poros superficiais é proporcional ao aumento da concentração de argila, assim como a diminuição de bloqueios horizontais entre a camada superficial e os poros em formas de canais da camada intermediária. A morfologia interna das membranas sintetizadas com PEO pode ser caracterizada por uma camada superficial densa com poros e uma camada inferior com uma morfologia esponjosa densa com micro-poros. A camada intermediaria tem uma morfologia densa com poros em forma de canais com diâmetros maiores se comprado às membranas sem adição de PEO. A adição de PEO diminui o tamanho médio dos micro-poros, se comparado com as membranas onde apenas argila é adicionada. Foi constatado que a melhoria da permeabilidade está associada à alteração na morfologia interna das membranas compostas. O aumento dos poros superficiais conectados aos poros em forma de canais mais longos e uma camada inferior menor, proporciona uma redução da resistência interna da membrana, devido à formação de caminhos livres, facilitando a passagem da água. Pelas análises de espectrômetro de raios X por dispersão de energia (EDS), foram identificadas nanopartículas de argila dispersas na superfície e na matriz transversal da membrana. Os resultados indicam que a introdução de nanopartículas de argila na solução polimérica é uma técnica de modificação da membrana promissora no melhoramento do desempenho da membrana para o tratamento de água e efluentes. / This research was developed in the International Reference Center for Water Reuse (IRCWR) laboratory inside to the Departamento de Engenharia Hidráulica e Ambiental da Escola Politécnica da Universidade de São Paulo (USP). The main objective of this research is the synthesis of ultrafiltration flat sheet membrane, using polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) polymer, clay (montmorillonite hydrophilic) inorganic nanoparticles and polyethylene oxide (PEO). Membranes were synthesized by phase inversion process, using 18% PVDF, mass based, in n-methylpyrrolidone as solvent and water as the non-solvent in the coagulation bath. The influence of different concentrations of clay nanoparticles and PEO was evaluated. Permeability, separation capability, and foulling potential tests were conducted to evaluate membranes performance and morphology analysis and physical characteristics were used for membranes characterization. Results indicated that clay nanoaprticles and PEO addiction can improve membrane permeability and morphology. The Kynar 761 6% clay 0% PEO (K6-0), Kynar 761 0% clay 4% PEO (K0-4) and Kynar 761 6% clay 4% PEO (K6-4) membranes showed the best permeability results, with an increase, respectively of 520%, 1,250% and 1,100%, compared to pure membrane. Furthermore, there is an improvement of 55%, 60% and 41% in the foulling potential reduction, respectively, for K6-0, K0-4 and K6-4 membranes, compared to the control membrane. It was verified that membrane permeability improvement and fouling potential reduction with the addition of clay nanoparticles is related with the improvement of membranes hydrophilicity and surface charge. The internal morphology of the membranes synthesized with clay can be characterized by a surface layer with pores interconnected with finger-like pores in the intermediate layer. The bottom layer has a sponge-like morphology with micro-pores. The increasing number and size of surface pores and also the reduction of horizontal blocks between the surface layer and the finger-like pores in the intermediate layer, is observed with increasing dosage of clay. The internal morphology of the membranes synthesized with PEO can be characterized by a dense surface layer and a bottom layer with dense sponge morphology with micro-pores. The intermediate layer has a dense morphology with finger-like pores with larger diameters if compared to the membranes without addition of PEO. The PEO addition decreases the average size of micro-pores, compared with membranes only clay is added. It was observed that change in composite membranes internal morphology, resulted in the water permeability improvement. The increasing superficial pores connected to longer finger-like pores and a thin bottom layer resulted in an internal pore structure with a lower resistance due to free paths formation, facilitating the flow passage. Using Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDS) analysis it was possible to observed clay nanoparticles dispersed on membrane surface and in its cross-section matrix. These preliminary results indicate that clay nanoclay addiction in polymeric solution is a promising membrane modification technique for improving membrane performance for water and wastewater treatment.