Polyphenylene Sulfide Fabric Hydrophilicity Durability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current polyphenylene sulfide diaphragms for water electrolyzers face issues with hydrophilicity and airtightness degradation over time due to surface-only plasma processing, leading to reduced efficiency and safety concerns.
Innovation Solution
A polyphenylene sulfide woven fabric with a hydrophilic group composition of carbon-oxygen, sulfur-oxygen, hydroxyl, and amino groups, achieving an oxygen content of 15% or more on the fiber surface, which enhances hydrophilicity and airtightness through a combination of sulfonation and plasma processing, along with ultraviolet irradiation for improved durability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If plasma processing is performed on the surface of the diaphragm cloth, then the diaphragm cloth is endowed with hydrophilicity, but the hydrophilic timeliness is poor and hydrophilicity and airtightness gradually decline with use
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces plasma processing (physical method) with ultraviolet irradiation (photochemical method) to introduce hydrophilic groups. The ultraviolet light causes photo-oxidation of the polyphenylene sulfide fiber surface, forming carboxyl, carbonyl, and hydroxyl groups that provide sustained hydrophilicity without the temporary nature of plasma treatment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the fundamental parameter of hydrophilic group introduction from surface adsorption (plasma) to covalent bonding through photo-oxidation (ultraviolet). This parameter change transforms the hydrophilic properties from temporary to permanent, resolving the contradiction between initial hydrophilicity and long-term maintenance.
2Reliability
If sulfonation is performed in concentrated sulfuric acid solution, then the non-woven fabric is endowed with hydrophilicity, but the treatment time is long and the strength of the non-woven fabric is greatly reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces chemical sulfonation (wet chemical process) with ultraviolet photo-oxidation (photochemical process). This substitution eliminates the need for concentrated sulfuric acid treatment, dramatically reducing treatment time from 20-40 minutes to a much shorter UV exposure period, and prevents the severe strength reduction caused by prolonged acid exposure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the processing parameter from chemical concentration and treatment time (sulfonation in 90-98% H2SO4 for 20-40 minutes) to ultraviolet irradiation dosage. This parameter transformation achieves hydrophilic modification without the harmful side effects of concentrated acid treatment, preserving fabric strength while providing adequate hydrophilicity.
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 fabric maintains high airtightness and hydrophilicity over time, ensuring efficient electrolysis while being energy-saving and environmentally friendly.
Implementation Method 1
irradiating with ultraviolet rays to introduce hydrophilic groups onto the surface of the fiber
Implementation Method 2
the diaphragm of the water electrolyser must have excellent hydrophilicity
Data Source
AI summary
A polyphenylene sulfide woven fabric for water electrolyser and manufacturing method thereof. The surface of the fiber constituting the polyphenylene sulfide woven fabric contains a hydrophilic group and the oxygen content of the surface of the fiber is 15% by weight or more. The hydrophilic group comprises a carbon-oxygen group and a sulfur-oxygen group, the carbon-oxygen group being at least one of a carboxyl group, a carbonyl group and an aldehyde group. The content of the carbon-oxygen group is 62 to 72% of the total number of the groups in the surface of the fiber, and the content of the sulfur-oxygen group is 6 to 15% of the total number of the groups in the surface of the fiber. The polyphenylene sulfide woven fabric for water electrolysers has good hydrophilicity, high air tightness characteristics, also has characteristics of simple process, energy saving, and low environmental pollution.