Highly methanol resistant and selective ternary blend membrane composed of sulfonated PVdF‐co‐HFP, sulfonated polyaniline and nafion. Issue 15 (24th December 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Dutta, Kingshuk; Das, Suparna; Kundu, Patit Paban
• Is Part Of: Journal of applied polymer science. Volume 133:Issue 15(2016)
• Page Start: n/a
• Page End: n/a
• Publication Date: 2015-12-24
• Subjects: blends -- membranes -- properties and characterization; Polymers -- Periodicals; Polymerization -- Periodicals; 668.9
• DOI: 10.1002/app.43294
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0021-8995

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Partially sulfonated poly(vinylidene fluoride‐co‐hexafluoro propylene)/partially sulfonated polyaniline (SPVdF‐co‐HFP/SPAni) binary blend membranes have shown promising results in terms of low methanol permeability and high membrane selectivity compared to Nafion‐117 membrane. However, the proton conductivity and IEC of this binary blend membrane was much lower than Nafion‐117. It was found that incorporation of minimal quantity of Nafion within SPVdF‐co‐HFP/SPAni blend membrane at a constituent weight % ratio of SPVdF‐co‐HFP:SPAni:Nafion = 50:40:10 induced significant improvements in ion‐exchange capacity (IEC), proton conductivity and tensile strength over that of the binary blend membrane. In addition, the SPVdF‐co‐HFP/SPAni/Nafion ternary blend membrane exhibited much lower methanol permeability, higher membrane and relative selectivities and comparable IEC to Nafion‐117. In effect, presence of minimal quantity of Nafion induced significant positive attributes to the ternary blend membrane; and assisted in reaching a balance between material cost and properties. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci.2016, 133, 43294. Abstract :