Effect of Sulfonated Block Copolymer on the Equilibrium and Thermal Properties of Sulfonated Fluoroblock Copolymer Blend Membranes

Abstract

Polymeric membrane technologies demand the synthesis of new polymers to enhance their equilibrium, thermal, and transport properties. Therefore, the focus of this investigation was the evaluation of the equilibrium and thermal properties of a sulfonated fluoroblock copolymer blend membrane composed of sulfonated poly(styrene-isobutylene-styrene) (SIBS SO3H) and a novel sulfonated fluoroblock copolymer composed of poly(4-fluo- rostyrene) (P4FS), poly(styrene) (PS) and poly(isobutylene) (PIB). The fluoroblock copolymer was synthesized using Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization (ATRP) and cationic polymerization. First, the molecular weight and the thermal stability of the block copolymer were determined using Gel Permeation Chromatography (GPC) and Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA). Second, the chemical composition was monitored utilizing Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. The molecular weight of P4FS-b-PS was Mn ~ 36,100; this value increased 8% after the cationic polymerization. The equilibrium properties of the membrane were evaluated using the water uptake and Ion-Exchange Capacity. The degradation behavior and the thermal transitions were determined using TGA and Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), respectively. This newly membrane exhibited water uptake higher than 608% related to the improvement of 36% in the ion-exchange capacity and the increment of 25.31% and 25.24% in the energy required to produce the thermal transitions induced by the addition of the sulfonated fluoroblock copolymer.