Poly plasticising solvents

Ion-selective electrodes (ISEs) with sensor membranes based on sensor molecules plus suitable plasticising solvent mediators are best fabricated with such components physically entangled in a thin poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) membrane. 

Plasticiser/oil in rubber is usually determined by solvent extraction (ISO 1407) and FTIR identification [57] TGA can usually provide good quantifications of plasticiser contents. Antidegradants in rubber compounds may be determined by HS-GC-MS for volatile species (e.g. BHT, IPPD), but usually solvent extraction is required, followed by GC-MS, HPLC, UV or DP-MS analysis. Since cross-linked rubbers are insoluble, more complex extraction procedures must be carried out. The determination of antioxidants in rubbers by means of HPLC and TLC has been reviewed [58], The TLC technique for antidegradants in rubbers is described in ASTM D 3156 and ISO 4645.2 (1984). Direct probe EIMS was also used to analyse antioxidants (hindered phenols and aromatic amines) in rubber extracts [59]. ISO 11089 (1997) deals with the determination of /V-phenyl-/9-naphthylamine and poly-2,2,4-trimethyl-1,2-dihydroquinoline (TMDQ) as well as other generic types of antiozonants such as IV-alkyl-AL-phenyl-p-phenylenediamines (e.g. IPPD and 6PPD) and A-aryl-AL-aryl-p-phenylenediamines (e.g. DPPD), by means of HPLC. 

In the example above, a short-chain poly(ethylene glycol) was added to a rigid polyelectrolyte to plasticise the material and thereby increase polymer-solvent motion in the vicinity of mobile ions. This strategy has been widely explored as a means of improving ion transport in electrolytes. 

Polymer-based ion conducting materials have been of great interest to researchers in the field of lithium batteries since Armand et al proposed the use of poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO)-Li salts as a solid polymer electrolyte (SPE). In this application, the polymer electrolyte functions as a mechanical separator between the two electrodes and also as the ionic conductor. Polymer electrolytes are used in the form of thin films and may be either dry (organic solvent-free) or plasticised. A high specific energy density can be reached at medium temperature using a dry polymer electrolyte and lithium metal as the negative electrode. 

The properties of the GPE are affected by the polymer matrix content, type and concentration of the acidic component, i.e. AMPS or EGMP as well as the type of solvent used as plasticiser. The highest conductivities reached 1.5 and 0.67 x 10 Scm respectively at room temperature for AMPSA-and EGMP-based electrolytes. All EGMP-based systems had lower conductivities than AMPS-based systems. The use of PC-DMF, EC-DMF or PC-EC-DMF solvent mixtures, on the other hand, improves adhesion to a glass substrate and resistance to the influence of traces of water. It is found that the poly(AMPSA-co-MMA)-PC-DMF (30 wt% polymer) and poly(AMPS-co-HEMA)-PC-EC-DMF (20 wt% polymer) systems are the most promising for ECD applications. 

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