Proton conducting blends based on polysulfones and elastomers

✍ Scribed by A. Linares; J. L. Acosta; S. Rodríguez

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 2006
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 289 KB
• Volume: 100
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0021-8995
• DOI: 10.1002/app.23144

✦ Synopsis

Abstract

With the aim of improving the performance of conventional proton conducting membranes, systems based on two poly(arylene ether sulfone)s and two elastomers were obtained by heterogeneous sulfonation with chlorosulfonic acid. Subsequently, they were characterized, morphologically and electrically, by techniques such as infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), differential scanning calorimetry, dynamic‐mechanical analysis, and complex impedance spectroscopy. From the results, it was verified that the reaction of sulfonation had taken place, as well as that these materials formed incompatible and good proton conducting blends. In addition, the storage modulus and the conductivity were subjected to a statistical design to predict the optimum composition, presenting the best mechanical and conducting proton values and as a consequence the most suitable membrane from the point of view of its application in the field of the fuel cells. Very promising results have been found especially with membranes based on binary blends constituted by thermoplastic/elastomer polymers. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 100: 3474–3482, 2006