Poly(arylene Sulfide) Membrane Composition for High-Porosity Processing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for producing poly(arylene sulphide) membranes face challenges due to poor solubility in common solvents, requiring the use of hazardous organic solvents and plasticizers, and are limited to porosities below 50%, posing safety and industrial efficiency issues.
Innovation Solution
A ternary blend of poly(arylene sulfide) polymer, polyelectrolyte, and sulfonate or carboxylate salt with alkaline or alkaline-earth metals is used to create membranes with high porosity without organic solvents, ensuring homogenous distribution and thermal stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If poly(arylene sulphide) polymers are used to make membranes for harsh environments, then solvent resistance and thermal stability are improved, but processability into membranes deteriorates due to poor solubility
Solution Approach 1:
A water-soluble polymeric additive acts as an intermediary substance that facilitates the processing of poly(arylene sulphide) polymers. This additive enables the formation of a homogeneous mixture with the poorly soluble polymer, allowing membrane fabrication through water-based methods without requiring special organic solvents or plasticizers.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the solvent parameter from organic solvents/plasticizers to water by introducing a water-soluble polymeric additive. This parameter change transforms the processing system, enabling the polymer to be processed in aqueous environments while maintaining its inherent solvent resistance and thermal stability in the final membrane product.
2Ease of manufacture
If special solvents or plasticizers are used to dissolve poly(arylene sulphide) at high temperatures, then membrane formation is enabled, but safety concerns increase due to flash points
Solution Approach 1:
The invention replaces hazardous organic solvents and plasticizers with water as the processing medium. Water, being non-hazardous and having no flash point, serves as a safe alternative that eliminates fire risks while still enabling membrane formation through the water-soluble polymeric additive.
Solution Approach 2:
Using water as the processing medium creates an inherently safe, non-flammable environment during membrane fabrication. This eliminates the need to handle volatile organic compounds with low flash points, removing the associated fire hazards and safety concerns from the manufacturing process.
3Manufacturing precision
If thermal induced phase separation techniques are used with plasticizers, then porous membranes are produced, but porosity is limited to below 50%
Solution Approach 1:
The invention uses a composite system comprising poly(arylene sulphide) polymer, water-soluble polymeric additive, and water. This composite approach allows for enhanced porosity development during drying, as the water-soluble additive creates a more effective porous network structure compared to traditional plasticizer-based systems, breaking the 50% porosity barrier.
Solution Approach 2:
The water-soluble polymeric additive facilitates the formation of a more developed porous structure during the drying process. As water evaporates, the additive's water-soluble nature allows for better pore formation and connectivity, resulting in membranes with porosity exceeding 50% that maintain structural integrity and polymer performance.
4Ease of manufacture
If massive amounts of organic plasticizers and solvents are handled, then membrane processing is achieved, but safety risks increase due to flash points
Solution Approach 1:
The invention replaces large quantities of hazardous organic plasticizers and solvents with water as the processing medium. This substitution eliminates fire risks associated with handling massive amounts of flammable materials while maintaining effective membrane processing capabilities through the water-soluble polymeric additive.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention converts the potential harm of handling large volumes of organic solvents into a benefit by using water instead. The water-based system with water-soluble additive not only eliminates safety risks but also provides effective membrane processing, turning the limitation of water solubility into an advantage through the additive's mediating role.
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 high-porosity membranes suitable for harsh environments, eliminating the need for hazardous chemicals and achieving industrial scalability.
Implementation Method 1
ensuring homogenous distribution and thermal stability
Implementation Method 2
The key property of porous membranes is their ability to control the permeation rate of chemical species through the membrane itself
Implementation Method 3
Porous membranes are discrete, thin interfaces that moderate the permeation of chemical species in contact with them
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a composition for the manufacturing of a porous article, notably a membrane, which comprises a poly(arylene sulphide) and at least one water-soluble salt. The present invention also relates to a method for manufacturing said porous article and to its use for purifying fluid(s).