Crosslinking and stabilization of TiO2 nanoparticle filled polymeric membranes for gas separations

PMSE 550

Lei Shao, lei.shao@chemeng.ntnu.no1, Jon Samseth2, and May-Britt Hägg1. (1) Department of Chemical Engineering, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Sem Sælandsvei 4, Trondheim, N-7491, Norway, (2) SINTEF Materials and Chemistry, Trondheim, N-7465, Norway
Poly(4-methyl-2-pentyne)[PMP] is an amorphous, glassy, disubstituted acetylene-based polymer and one of the most permeable hydrocarbon-based polymers known. However, when PMP is used for gas separations, its selectivity is relatively low and the high gas permeability is unstable over time. PMP is also soluble in some organic compounds. These phenomena may compromise the practical use of PMP. The current study investigates the effect of crosslinking PMP on transport properties and physical aging. The PMP membranes were crosslinked using bis azide. The stability of crosslinked PMP is strongly enhanced using bis azide. Compared to the pure PMP membrane, the permeability of the crosslinked membrane is initially reduced for all gases tested(O2, N2, H2, CH2) due to the crosslinking. By adding nanoparticles TiO2, the permeability is again increased, crosslinking is successful in maintaining the permeability and selectivity of PMP over time.
 

New Concepts in Polymeric Materials
1:30 PM-5:05 PM, Thursday, August 23, 2007 Westin Boston Waterfront -- Adams, Oral

Division of Polymeric Materials: Science & Engineering

The 234th ACS National Meeting, Boston, MA, August 19-23, 2007