Authors: Eun Mi Choi Kyoung Sub Shin Taek Sung Hwang
Publish Date: 2010/06/25
Volume: 18, Issue: 6, Pages: 577-582
Abstract
A novel cation exchange membrane based on a styrenehydroxyethyl acrylatelauryl methacrylate terpolymer StHEALMA was prepared Sulfonic groups were introduced to the membrane structure with sulfuric acid as the sulfonating agent and silver sulfate as the initiator Sulfonated StHEALMA terpolymer membranes were characterized by Fouriertransform infrared FTIR spectroscopy and atomic force microscopy AFM as well as by determining the degree of sulfonation DS ionexchange capacity IEC swelling ratio and electrical resistance of the membranes The presence of sulfonic groups in the sulfonated StHEALMA terpolymer was confirmed by FTIR and the resulting membrane exhibited an ionexchange capacity of 213 meq/g and an electrical resistance of 117 Ω·cm2 The swelling ratio of the prepared membranes increased with increasing degree of sulfonation and the tensile strength decreased with increasing degree of sulfonation at a reaction temperature of 30°C The phase images obtained by AFM clearly showed an increase in roughness with increasing DS Considering the mechanical properties the sulfonated StHEALMA terpolymer obtained at a sulfonation reaction temperature of 20°C was suitable for ionexchange membrane applications
Keywords: