Membrane materials enhancing permeability-selectivity properties

A follow-up study demonstrated that Qi phases further enhance the performance of LLC-BR composite membranes in both water transport and harmful chemical vapor rejection [170]. A cross-linkable, gemini phospho-nium amphiphile (Fig. 23) was blended with BR and cross-linked to form films exhibiting a Qi-phase nanostructure. Materials with a Qi-phase showed 300 times greater water vapor permeability and 500 times greater permeability selectivity for water/CEES than pure cross-linked BR. Furthermore, these Qi-phase composite films were far superior to their Hu and L analogues in both water vapor permeability and water/CEES transport selectivity. Further studies were planned to process thinner films as well as test their rejection properties against other types of chemical agents. 

Polymer/sihca composite blends, not only improve the physical properties, snch as the mechanical properties and thermal properties of the materials, but they can also exhibit some unique properties that have attracted strong interest in many industries. Besides common plastics and rubber reinforcanent, many other potential and practical applications of this type of nanocomposites have been reported coatings, flame-retardant materials, optical devices, electronics and optical packaging materials, photo resist materials, photo-luminescent conducting film, per-vaporation membrane, ultra-permeable reverse-selective membranes, proton exchange membranes, grouting materials, sensors and materials for metal uptake, etc. As for the colloidal polymer/sihca nanocomposites with various morphologies, they usually exhibit enhanced, even novel, properties when compared with the traditional nanocomposites and have many potential applications in various areas. 

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