Mechamisms of gas permeation through polymer membranes. Progress report, July 1, 1982-May 31, 1983

Technical Report · Sun May 01 04:00:00 EDT 1983

OSTI ID:6205554

Stern, S A; Mauze, G R; Sampat, S R

The main objective of this study is to assess the validity of a free-volume model of gas permeation through rubbery polymer membranes. Such information is of importance for the development of new membrane processes for the separation of gas mixtures. Steady-state permeability coefficients for N/sub 2/O in polyethylene between 20 and 50/sup 0/C and at pressures up to 15 atm were found to be 45% higher (on the average) than values predicted by the free-volume model. The difference between the experimental and theoretical permeability coefficients for N/sub 2/O is about twice as large as observed with many other gases in polyethylene. Permeability, diffusion time-lags, and absorption measurements were made with n-C/sub 4/H/sub 10/ in poly(eta-butyl methacrylate) at 30/sup 0/C and subatmospheric pressures. The experimental time-lags agreed satisfactorily with values predicted by the free-volume model, using model parameters obtained from gas absorption measurements. However, the experimental permeability coefficients were substantially higher than the theoretical values. This may be due to a non-Fickian transport component because the measurements were made at only 3/sup 0/C above the glass transition temperature of the polymer. This study was recently extended to the solution and transport of gases and vapors in glassy polymers. Satisfactory agreement between experiment and theory was found for the solution, permeation, and diffusion of acetone, benzene, and methanol in ethyl cellulose and water vapor in poly(acrylonitrile) and for the solution of vinyl chloride monomer in poly(vinyl chloride). A generalized model of transport of small molecules in polymers has been developed. The model incorporates free-volume and dual-mode sorption concepts, and should be applicable both to rubbery and glassy polymers.

• Research Organization: Syracuse Univ., NY (USA). Dept. of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science
• DOE Contract Number: AC02-78ER05015
• OSTI ID: 6205554
• Report Number(s): DOE/ER/05015-T1; ON: DE83013382
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
360404 -- Materials-- Polymers & Plastics-- Physical Properties-- (-1987)
37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
400105* -- Separation Procedures
ACETONE
ALCOHOLS
ALKANES
AROMATICS
BENZENE
BUTANE
CELLULOSE ESTERS
CHALCOGENIDES
CHLORINATED ALIPHATIC HYDROCARBONS
DATA
DIFFUSION
ESTERS
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
FLUIDS
GASES
HALOGENATED ALIPHATIC HYDROCARBONS
HYDROCARBONS
HYDROXY COMPOUNDS
INFORMATION
KETONES
LOW PRESSURE
MEDIUM PRESSURE
MEDIUM TEMPERATURE
MEMBRANES
METHANOL
MONOMERS
NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
NITROGEN OXIDES
NITROUS OXIDE
NUMERICAL DATA
ORGANIC CHLORINE COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC POLYMERS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PERMEABILITY
POLYACRYLATES
POLYETHYLENES
POLYMERS
POLYOLEFINS
POLYVINYLS
PVC
SEPARATION PROCESSES
THEORETICAL DATA
VINYL MONOMERS