Polymer nanocomposites with layered zeolite MCM-22: Microstructural study and gas separation performance

COLL 340

Sudeep Maheshwari, sudeepm@cems.umn.edu1, Sandeep Kumar, skumar@cems.umn.edu1, Frank S. Bates1, R. Lee Penn, penn@chem.umn.edu2, and Michael Tsapatsis, tsapatsi@cems.umn.edu1. (1) Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, University of Minnesota, 421 Washington Ave. SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455, (2) Department of Chemistry, University of Minnesota, 207 Pleasant Street SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455
Polymer-nanoparticles systems have attracted a widespread interest to produce materials with improved mechnical strength, thermal stability, flame retardancy and barrier properties. In this work, we demonstrate the application of this system for gas separation applications. Zeolite MCM-22, a layered aluminosilicate with about 2.5 nm thick layers, was swollen by intercalation of organic surfactant, cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide and mixed with polymers using the solvent casting and melt extrusion techniques. Structural properties of nanocomposites were investigated using Small Angle X-Ray Scattering (SAXS) and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM). Transport properties of nanocomposite membranes with varying amount of zeolite loading were quantified by gas permeation measurements. We discuss the effect of processing techniques on the extent of exfoliation and dispersion of zeolite layers in polymer matrix and the gas separation performance of nanocomposite membranes.
 

Polymer-Nanoparticle Systems: Theory, Simulation, Experiments
2:00 PM-5:00 PM, Tuesday, April 8, 2008 Morial Convention Center -- Rm. 227, Oral

Division of Colloid & Surface Chemistry

The 235th ACS National Meeting, New Orleans, LA, April 6-10, 2008