Vapor transport studies of highly sulfonated triblock (A-B-A) copolymers

PMSE 282

Eugene Napadensky, enapade@arl.army.mil, James M. Sloan, and Dawn M. Crawford. Weapons and Materials Research Directorate, U. S. Army Research Laboratory, Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD 21005
In this work, we examine a series of semi-permeable membranes in order to evaluate their potential usefulness as a breathable, yet agent resistant material for military and civilian clothing. This study examines the permeation of water vapor and the permeation of dimethylmethylphosponate (DMMP) vapor through two A-B-A block copolymers with different midblock types. Sulfonation levels studied were between 59% and 90%. DMMP is chemically similar to the nerve agent Sarin (GB) and is often used to imitate the behavior of chemical agents when the usage of actual agents is cost prohibitive due to safety concerns.