PTMSP-Rubbery Polymer Gutter Layers for Physical Aging Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing gas separation membranes face issues with physical aging leading to a decrease in permeability over time, and the formation of uniform gutter layers with high permeability and selectivity is challenging due to non-uniform thickness and mechanical instability.
Innovation Solution
A composite membrane is developed with a gutter layer comprising a blend of poly(l-trimethylsilyl-1-propyne) (PTMSP) and a rubbery polymer, prepared using water casting to ensure a uniform thickness and high permeability without compromising selectivity, supported by a porous layer.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If PTMSP is used as gutter layer material to achieve high permeability, then permeation performance is improved, but physical aging occurs leading to severe decrease in permeability over time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a composite material system consisting of PTMSP as the primary gutter layer material combined with a selective layer containing rubbery polymer and glassy polymer. This composite structure allows the PTMSP to provide high initial permeability while the selective layer with rubbery polymer components suppresses physical aging, resolving the contradiction between high permeability and aging resistance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the compositional parameters of the selective layer by incorporating rubbery polymers (such as PDMS, polybutadiene, polyisoprene) in specific weight ratios (5-50 wt% of total selective layer). This parameter change in the selective layer composition protects the PTMSP gutter layer from physical aging while maintaining high permeability.
2Ease of manufacture
If solution coating method is used to form protective layer, then ease of manufacture is improved, but uniform thickness cannot be achieved due to porous structure of support layer
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes the porous structure of the support layer (with pore sizes of 0.01-10 μm) as a substrate for coating. The porous structure allows the solution coating to penetrate and form a uniform film throughout the porous network, achieving both ease of manufacture and uniform thickness distribution within the pores.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent optimizes coating parameters including solvent selection (chloroform, dichloromethane, or their mixtures with alcohols), polymer concentration (0.1-2 wt%), and coating conditions to achieve uniform film formation on the porous support layer while maintaining manufacturing simplicity.
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 composite membrane exhibits high permeation performance and significantly reduces physical aging, maintaining permeability and selectivity, making it suitable for industrial applications.
Implementation Method 1
a rubbery polymer is introduced into a gutter layer to suppress the physical aging of the highly permeable composite membrane
Implementation Method 2
forming a film on water by water casting to prepare a gutter layer
Implementation Method 3
it is essential to have support layers to support the selective layer materials
Implementation Method 4
PTMSP is a material having very high gas permeation performance (47,000 Barrer for CO2)
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to a composite membrane in which a rubbery polymer is introduced into a gutter layer to suppress the physical aging of the highly permeable composite membrane, and more particularly, to a composite membrane comprising a porous support layer; a gutter layer on the porous support layer; and an active layer on the gutter layer, wherein the gutter layer comprises a blend of poly(l-trimethlsilyl-l-propyne) (PTMSP) and a rubbery polymer and a method for preparing the same. The composite membrane according to the present disclosure has high permeation performance and a remarkable decline in physical aging leading to a decrease in permeability over time and thus has very high industrial applicability.