High Ionic Exchange Capacity Polyphenylsulfone (SPPSU) and Polyethersulfone (SPES) Cross-Linked by Annealing Treatment: Thermal Stability, Hydration Level and Mechanical Properties.

Thermal stability, hydration and mechanical properties of thermally cross-linked sulfonated aromatic polymers (SAP) with high ionic exchange capacity (IEC) were measured and compared to untreated samples. The formation of cross-linking greatly stabilizes sulfonated polyphenylsulfone (SPPSU) in terms of thermal, mechanical, and hydrolytic degradation: it can resist in water even at a temperature of 145 °C with improved mechanical properties, while TGA experiments demonstrate that SPPSU membranes are stable well above 200 °C. Sulfonated polyethersulfone (SPES) membranes show, instead, a hydrolytic instability.

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Published on: Journal of Membrane Science 2010, 354, 134-141
Authors: M. L. Di Vona, E. Sgreccia, M. Tamilvanan, M. Khadhraoui, C. Chassigneux, P. Knauth