Curable Ion-Charged Membrane Coating Method
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for producing ionically-charged membranes face challenges in achieving good mechanical strength, selectivity, and low water permeability while maintaining cost-effectiveness, as they often require expensive materials and complex, energy-intensive processes.
Innovation Solution
A method involving the application of a curable composition comprising ethylenically unsaturated groups and ionic groups to a support, followed by curing and removal, which allows for the use of inexpensive strengthening materials and continuous production, resulting in membranes with improved permselectivity and durability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If composite membranes comprising porous support impregnated with ionically-charged polymer are used, then mechanical strength is improved, but manufacturing complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the ionically-charged polymer from the composite membrane structure and applies it directly to a flat support surface, eliminating the need for porous support materials and complex impregnation processes. This simplifies the manufacturing while maintaining mechanical strength through the direct coating method.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical state and application method of the ionically-charged polymer from impregnated porous material to a curable composition that can be applied as a film. This parameter change enables simpler manufacturing processes while achieving the desired mechanical properties.
2Reliability
If conventional ion exchange membranes are used, then selectivity is improved, but water permeability increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a thin film of curable composition containing ionically-charged groups that provides selective ion transport while maintaining low water permeability. The film structure achieves high selectivity without the excessive water permeability associated with conventional porous composite membranes.
3Reliability
If expensive materials and complex processes are used for membrane production, then membrane performance is improved, but production cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs inexpensive curable composition materials that can be applied in a simple coating process, replacing expensive specialized materials. The direct application to flat supports and subsequent curing creates high-performance membranes at lower cost.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces complex mechanical impregnation processes with a chemical curing process. The curable composition is applied to the support and then cured to form the membrane, eliminating the need for complex porous structure formation and chemical impregnation steps.
4Reliability
If ionically-charged membranes are produced using traditional methods, then good selectivity is achieved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces energy-intensive porous structure formation and chemical impregnation processes with a simple coating and curing method. The curable composition is applied to flat supports and cured using UV light or heat, significantly reducing energy consumption while maintaining selectivity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The method enables the production of membranes with high permselectivity and low electrical resistance, reducing costs and energy consumption while maintaining mechanical strength and selectivity, even without a porous support.
Implementation Method 1
stimulating release of free radicals from the free radical initiator thereby initiating a polymerization reaction to form a cross-linked ion-transferring polymer
Implementation Method 2
ED and EDR are electrochemical separation processes that remove ions and other charged species from water and other fluids. Ions are transferred through the membranes by means of direct current (DC) voltage
Implementation Method 3
ED and EDR are electrochemical separation processes that remove ions and other charged species from water and other fluids
Data Source
AI summary
A method for preparing an ionically-charged membrane comprising the steps (1) applying a film of curable composition to a support; (2) curing the film of curable composition to give anionically-charged membrane; and (3) removing the ionically-charged membrane from the support; wherein the curable composition comprises a) 5 to 50 wt % of curable compound comprising one ethylenically unsaturated group and anionic group; b) 10 to 70 wt % of crosslinking agent comprising at least two ethylenically unsaturated groups and having a molecular weight of at least 500 dalton per ethylenically unsaturated group; and c) 5 to 60 wt % of inert solvent.