Development of sulfonated polyphenylene oxide membranes for the reverse osmosis purification of wash water at sterilization temperatures /165 F/.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
SEARCH · Search NASA
Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.
Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
The thermochemical and flammability characteristics of some typical thermoplastic materials currently in use and others being considered for use in aircraft interiors are described. The properties studied included (1) thermomechanical properties such as glass transition and melt temperature, (2) changes in polymer enthalpy by differential scanning calorimetry, (3) thermogravimetric analysis in anaerobic and oxidative environments, (4) oxygen index, (5) smoke evolution, (6) relative toxicity of the volatile products of pyrolysis, and (7) selected physical properties. The generic polymers that were evaluated included: acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, bisphenol A polycarbonate, 9,9 bis (4-hydroxyphenyl) fluorene polycarbonatepoly (dimethyl siloxane) block polymer, phenolphthalein bisphenol A polycarbonate, phenolphthalein polycarbonate, polyether sulfone, polyphenylene oxide, polyphenylene sulfide, polyaryl sulfone, chlorinated polyvinyl chloride homopolymer, polyvinyl fluoride, and polyvinylidene fluoride. Processing parameters, including molding characteristics of some of the advanced polymers, are described. Test results and relative ranking of some of the flammability, smoke, and toxicity properties are presented.
The thermochemical and flammability characteristics of some typical thermoplastic materials currently in use or being considered for use in aircraft interiors are described. The properties studied included thermomechanical properties such as glass-transition and melt temperature, changes in polymer enthalpy, thermogravimetric analysis in anerobic and oxidative environments, oxygen index, smoke evolution, relative toxicity of the volatile products of pyrolysis, and selected physical properties. The generic polymers evaluated included acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, bisphenol A polycarbonate, 9,9 bis (4-hydroxyphenyl) fluorene polycarbonate-poly (dimethylsiloxane) block polymer, phenolphthalein-bisphenol A polycarbonate, phenolphthalein polycarbonate, polyether sulfone, polyphenylene oxide, polyphenylene sulfide, polyaryl sulfone, chlorinated polyvinyl chloride homopolymer, polyvinyl fluoride, and polyvinylidene fluoride. Processing parameters, including molding characteristics of some of the advanced polymers, are described. Test results and relative rankings of some of the flammability, smoke, and toxicity properties are presented. Under these test conditions, some of the advanced polymers evaluated were significantly less flammable and toxic than or equivalent to polymers in current use.
The thermochemical and flammability characteristics of some typical thermoplastic materials currently in use and others being considered for use in aircraft interiors are described. The properties studied included (1) thermal mechanical properties such as glass transition and melt temperature, (2) changes in polymer enthalpy by differential scanning calorimetry, (3) thermogravimetric analysis in an anaerobic and oxidative environment, (4) oxygen index, (5) smoke evolution, (6) relative toxicity of the volatile products of pyrolysis, and (7) selected physical properties. The generic polymers which were evaluated included: acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene, bisphenol A polycarbonate, bisphenol fluorenone carbonatedimethylsiloxane block polymer, phenolphthalein-bisphenol A polycarbonate, phenolphthalein polycarbonate, polyether sulfone, polyphenylene oxide, polyphenylene sulfide, polyaryl sulfone, chlorinated polyvinyl chloride homopolymer, polyvinyl fluoride, and polyvinylidene fluoride. Processing parameters including molding characteristics of some of the advanced polymers are described. Test results and relative rankings of some of the flammability, smoke and toxicity properties are presented.
The main objective of this project is to fabricate and demonstrate superior fuel cell performance of an electrospun composite all-hydrocarbon, non-PFSA membrane. The project builds on two earlier, DOE-funded studies demonstrating high proton conductivity, even at very low humidity of crosslinkable poly(phenylenesulfonic acid), cPPSA, solution cast films, and high durability of electrospun perfluorosulfonic acid (PFSA) composite membranes. Most project milestones were fully met but the best membrane conductivity and fuel cell performance were obtained with membranes that did not contain electrospun sulfonated polyphenylene, as initially planned. Instead, an excellent performance was achieved with membranes fabricated by pore-filling, either with electrospun poly(phenyl sulfone) scaffolds or with commercial, expanded polytetrafluoroethylene scaffolds. Fuel cell testing demonstrated performance better than that of Nafion 211 or Nafion XL, particularly at lower cell humidification levels with significantly lower hydrogen crossover. No accelerated stress testing was performed, due to the initial numerous difficulties with controlling the copolymerization reaction, which took excessive amount of time to overcome. Potential scale-up of the proposed composite membrane technology can aid in boosting the fuel cell power output and simplification of the cell hydration system.
Three membrane systems have been evaluated for concentration at 165 F of wash-water contaminants. Membranes tested are polybenzimidazole (hollow fibers), cellulose acetate blend (spiral wound), and sulfonated polyphenylene oxide (plate-and-frame). Detailed membrane flux and rejection data are presented for 200-hr life tests with synthetic wash water, at two concentrations, and real wash water, at one concentration. Advantages and limitations of the membrane configurations, are discussed.
Swiss Webster male mice which had survived near-lethal concentrations of pyrolysis gases from a variety of polymeric materials were killed two weeks after exposure, and the lungs, heart, liver, kidney, and spleen were examined. Microscopic examination revealed no significant effects on the liver, kidney, and spleen, while the effect on lungs could not be determined because of the high level of pathology in both experimental and control animals. The polymeric materials which were pyrolyzed were polyethylene, ABS, polycarbonate, polyaryl sulfone, polyether sulfone, polyphenylene sulfide, modified polyphenylene oxide, chlorinated polyvinyl chloride, polyvinylidene fluoride, and fluorene polycarbonate. It is suggested that tissue specimens should be examined 24 or 48 hr after exposure rather than 2 wks after exposure, since the 2 wk period permits healing to occur.
New polymer system combines thermal and solvent resistant properties of aromatic polyimides with processability of PPX polymers. PPX polymers include polyphenylene oxide, polyphenylene sulfide, and polyphenylene sulfone classes. Generally more processable by hot melt or thermoplastic techniques than aromatic polyimides. PPX systems more susceptible to attack by solvents and have lower glass transition temperatures than PI group.
Concentration-response data are presented on the toxic effects of the pyrolysis gases from some natural and synthetic polymers, using the toxicity screening test method developed at the University of San Francisco. The pyrolysis gases from wool, red oak, Douglas fir, polycaprolactam, polyether sulfone, polyaryl sulfone, and polyphenylene sulfide appeared to exhibit the concentration-response relationships commonly encountered in toxicology. Carbon monoxide seemed to be an important toxicant in the pyrolysis gases from red oak, Douglas fir, and polycaprolactam, but did not appear to have been the principal toxicant in the pyrolysis gases from polyether sulfone and polyphenylene sulfide.
The screening test method was used to investigate toxicity in polyethylene, polystyrene, polymethyl methacrylate, polyaryl sulfone, polyether sulfone, polyphenyl sulfone, and polyphenylene sulfide. Changing from a rising temperature program to a fixed temperature program resulted on shorter times to animal responses. This effect was attributed in part to more rapid generation of toxicants. The toxicants from the sulfur containing polymers appeared to act more rapidly than the toxicants from the other polymers. It was not known whether this effect was due primarily to difference in concentration or in the nature of the toxicants. The carbon monoxide concentration found did not account for the results observed with the sulfur containing polymers. Polyphenyl sulfone appeared to exhibit the least toxicity among the sulfur containing polymers evaluated under these test conditions.
Hydrocarbon-based electrodes for proton-exchange membrane fuel cells face challenges in closing the performance gap with electrodes based on perfluorosulfonic acid ionomers, particularly under low humidity conditions. Alongside increased oxygen transport resistance and higher kinetic-induced overpotentials, the protonic resistance of these fluorine-free electrodes is the primary hurdle to improved performance. This study systematically investigates the origin and impact of the cathode protonic resistance on fuel cell performance, utilizing sulfonated phenylated polyphenylenes as hydrocarbon ionomers. Electrochemical characterization at low relative humidity (≤50 %) reveal a high protonic resistance arising from both lower conductivity of the hydrocarbon thin film compared to the bulk membrane and increased cathode tortuosity at a gas transport-optimized ionomer to carbon (I/C) ratio of 0.2. The poor protonic resistance at low relative humidities leads to a non-homogeneous current distribution across the thickness of the cathode electrode, resulting in lower catalyst utilization. To address this issue, reducing the thickness of the cathode CL while maintaining a constant Pt loading (i.e., increasing the Pt on carbon ratio) significantly reduces protonic resistance. This improvement compensates for the kinetic disadvantages of highly loaded carbon particles and results in a considerable performance increase by 40 % at 0.75 V under low relative humidities.
The effect of heating rate on the toxicity of the pyrolysis gases from some synthetic polymers was investigate, using a screening test method. The synthetic polymers were polyethylene, polystyrene, polymethyl methacrylate, polycarbonate, ABS, polyaryl sulfone, polyether sulfone, and polyphenylene sulfide. The toxicants from the sulfur-containing polymers appeared to act more rapidly than the toxicants from the other polymers. It is not known whether this effect is due primarily to differences in concentration or in the nature of the toxicants. The carbon monoxide concentrations found do not account for the observed results.
The development of suitable electrocoatings and subsequent application to nonconductive substrates are discussed. Substrates investigated were plastics or resin-treated materials such as FX-resin (phenolic-type resin) impregnated fiberglass mat, polyphenylene sulfide, polyether sulfone and polyimide-impregnated unidirectional fiberglass. Efforts were aimed at formulating a fire-resistant, low smoke emitting, thermally stable, easily cleaned coating material. The coating is to be used for covering substrate panels, such as aluminum, silicate foam, polymeric structural entities, etc., all of which are applied in the aircraft cabin interior and thus subject to the spillages, scuffing, spotting and the general contaminants which prevail in aircraft passenger compartments.
The thermochemical and flammability properties of some thermally stable polymers considered for use in aircraft interiors are described. The properties studied include: (1) thermomechanical properties such as glass transition and melt temperature; (2) dynamic thermogravimetric analysis in anaerobic environment; (3) flammability properties such as oxygen index, flame spread, and smoke evolution; and (4) selected physical properties. The thermoplastic polymers evaluated included polyphenylene sulfide, polyaryl sulfone, 9,9-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)-fluorene polycarbonate-poly(dimethylsiloxane) and polyether sulfone. The thermoset polymers evaluated included epoxy, bismaleimide, a modified phenolic and polyaromatic melamine resin. These resins were primarily used in the fabrication of glass reinforced prepregs for the construction of experimental panels. Test results and relative rankings of some of the flammability parameters are presented and the relationship of the molecular structure, char yield, and flammability properties of these polymers are discussed.
The thermochemical and flammability properties of some thermally stable polymers considered for use in aircraft interiors are described. The properties studied include: (1) thermomechanical properties such as glass transition and melt temperature; (2) dynamic thermogravimetric analysis in anaerobic environment; (3) flammability properties such as oxygen index, flame spread, and smoke evolution; and (4) selected physical properties. The thermoplastic polymers evaluated include polyphenylene sulfide, polyaryl sulfone, 9,9-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)-fluorene polycarbonate-poly(dimethylsiloxane) and polyether sulfone. The thermoset polymers evaluated include epoxy, bismaleimide, a modified phenolic, and polyaromatic melamine resin. These resins were primarily used in the fabrication of glass-reinforced prepregs for the construction of experimental panels. Test results and relative rankings of some of the flammability parameters are presented, and the relationship of the molecular structure, char yield, and flammability properties of these polymers are discussed.
Three different proton conducting polymeric membrane materials (Nafion® 115, Nafion® 212, and sulfonated Diels-Alder polyphenylene [SDAPP]) were evaluated for use in SO 2 -depolarized electrolyzers for the production of hydrogen via the hybrid sulfur cycle. Their performance was measured using different water feed strategies to minimize overpotential losses while maintaining high product acid concentration. Both thin membranes (Nafion® 212 and SDAPP) showed performance superior to that of the thicker Nafion® 115. Here, the SDAPP membrane electrode assembly (MEA) performed well at higher acid concentrations, maintaining low ohmic and kinetic overpotentials. Finally, short-term (100-h) stability tests under constant current conditions showed minimal degradation for the SDAPP and Nafion® 212 MEAs. SDAPP MEA performance approached the targets needed to make the hybrid sulfur cycle a competitive process for hydrogen production (product acid concentration ≥65 wt% H 2 SO 4 at ≤ 0.6-V cell potential and ≥0.5 A-cm –2 current density).
Nineteen samples of synthetic polymers were evaluated for relative toxicity in the course of characterizing materials intended for aircraft interior applications. The generic polymers included ABS, chlorinated PVC, polycarbonate, polyphenylene oxide, polyphenylene sulfide, polysulfone, polyaryl sulfone, polyether sulfone, polybismaleimide, and polyvinyl fluoride. Test results are presented, and compared in relative rankings with similar results on cellulosic materials and other synthetic polymers. Under these test conditions, the samples of synthetic polymers were either comparable to or significantly less toxic than the samples of commercial cellulosic materials.