Plasma polymerization of ethylene diamine (EDA) on PTFE film surfaces is applied to modify PTFE surfaces to become hydrophilic and to incorporate amino groups onto PTFE surfaces. The surface-modified PTFE films are utilized as substrates for interfacial polymerization of EDA and trimesoyl chloride to prepare PTFE/polyamide thin-film composite (TFC) membranes. The effect of plasma power for plasma polymerization on the morphology and performances of the PTFE/PA TFC membranes are examined and discussed. The presence of amino groups on the PTFE substrates provides chemical linkages between PTFE and PA layers in interfacial polymerization to make the PTFE/PA TFC membranes are stable for pervaporation separations. A high permeation flux of 1910 g/hm(2) and a separation factor of 290 are observed with the PTFE/PA TFC membranes for pervaporation dehydration on a 70 wt% isopropanol aqueous solution at 70 degrees C. This approach explores a new method to prepare PTFE-based TFC membranes via interfacial polymerizations. The prepared TFC membranes could be potentially utilized in pervaporation and nanofiltration separations. (C) 2009 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.