METHOD FOR PREPARING NON-POROUS MEMBRANES WITH STAGE-BY-STAGE DISPERSION OF INORGANIC FILLER MODIFIED WITH SILAN

Abstract

This invention concerns a method for manufacturing a non-porous membrane related to composite membrane technology based on organic polymers and silane-modified inorganic fillers. This method includes preparing a polymer matrix containing polyeugenol sulfonate and / or sulfonated polymers, modifying the inorganic filler using one or more silane compounds, mixing the materials in a solvent, gradually adding the filler in at least two stages while stirring until homogeneous, forming the mixture into a film layer, and drying at one or more temperature levels until a non-porous membrane is obtained (dense membrane). The inorganic filler may be titanium dioxide, silicon dioxide, graphene oxide, zinc oxide, alumina, zeolite, bentonite, nanoclay, or a combination thereof. This invention provides advantages in the form of more even distribution of the filler, reduced particle agglomeration, increased mechanical strength, thermal stability, and barrier properties against gas and / or water vapor.The resulting membrane can be used as a fuel cell electrolyte membrane, edible film, bioplastic, separator, packaging film, and other membrane technology applications.