Preparation and Characterization of Sulfonated Imide-Grafted Poly(ethersulfone)s

Abstract

Poly(ethersulfone)s carrying pendant sulfonated imide side group. The first step in the preparation involved nitration of poly(ethersulfone) (ultrason®-S6010), with ammonium nitrate and trifluoroacetic anhydride resulting in the nitrated poly(ethersulfone) (NO2-PES). In the second step, the nitro groups on polymer were reacted with tin(II)chloride and sodium iodide as reducing agents for creating the amino poly(ethersulfone) (NH2-PES). The imide-poly(ethersulfone)s (IPES) were obtained by reaction of phthalic anhydride and the amino-poly(ethersulfone) with triethyl amine. The sulfonated imide-poly(ethersulfone)s (SIPES) were prepared by chlorosulfonic acid. The different degrees of sulfonated imide units of poly(ethersulfone) were successfully synthesized by an optimized condition. The Sulfonated imide-poly(ethersulfone)s (SIPES) were studied by FT-IR,1H-NMR spectroscopy and thermo gravimetric analysis(TGA). Sorption experiments were conducted to observe the interaction of sulfonated polymers with water. The ion exchange capacity (IEC) and proton conductivity of SIPES membranes were evaluated with increase of degree of sulfonation. The water uptake of synthesized SIPES membranes exhibit 30 ~ 65 % compared with 28 % of Nafion 211®. The SIPES membranes exhibit proton conductivities (25 °C) of 1.21 ~ 2.62´10-3S/cm compared with 3.37´10-3S/cm of Nafion 211®.