SBIR Phase I: Super Thin Film/High Free Volume Composite Membranes

这个小企业创新研究第一阶段项目将评估各种制造技术，以开发具有高选择性和高通量的三层“超薄膜复合材料”膜。目前，这家公司已证明有能力制造厚度小于1毫米的薄膜。5微米)的玻璃状含氟聚合物在微孔支架上。通过在我们的无孔玻璃含氟聚合物上放置超薄层（50A至200A）的高选择性聚合物，该公司希望制造出具有高选择性和高通量的膜。建立该超薄层（50A至200A）的技术包括(a)表面的化学改性，(b)在表面涂覆超薄层和(c)顶层的致密化。迄今为止，这一概念非常有限，因为稳定、高通量、高自由体积的无孔膜不存在。在第一阶段，该公司将展示超薄膜复合材料的概念。描述了一种新的玻璃状、高自由体积的含氟聚合物，它对渗透气体具有很高的渗透率，对挥发性有机物具有很低的渗透率，具有良好的选择性和优异的稳定性。玻璃性质允许容易制造成高通量无孔薄膜。这些独特的含氟聚合物允许制造新颖和有价值的膜结构。基于这种玻璃状含氟聚合物优异的成膜能力、优异的气体通量和高选择性，应用包括生产富氧空气，用于(1)工业应用（即玻璃/钢），(2)增强汽车动力、燃油效率和减少污染，以及(3)提高加热效率。优异的化学稳定性将用于苛刻的化学气体分离，如氯碱过程中的H2/Cl2或hf -氟分离。

This Small Business Innovation Research Phase I project will evaluate various fabrication techniques to develop a three layer `super thin film composite` membrane with both high selectivity and high flux. At present this firm has demonstrated an ability to fabricate thin films (less than .5 micron) of glassy fluoropolymer onto microporous supports. By placing a super thin layer (50A to 200A) of high selectivity polymer on top of our non-porous glass fluoropolymer, the firm expects to fabricate membranes with both high selectivity and high flux. Techniques to establish this super thin layer (50A to 200A) include (a) chemical modification of surface, (b) coating of ultrathin layer on surface and (c) densification of top layer. To date, this concept has been very limited in that stable, high flux, high free volume non-porous membranes did not exist. In Phase I the firm will demonstrate the concept of super thin film composites. New glassy, high free volume fluoropolymers are described which show very high permeability to permeant gases, low permeability to volatile organics, good selectivity and excellent stability. The glassy nature allows easy fabrication into high flux non-porous thin film membranes. These unique fluoropolymers allow fabrication of novel and valuable membrane structures. Based on the excellent film forming capability, excellent gas flux and high selectivity of this glassy fluoropolymer, applications include production of oxygen enriched air for (I) industrial applications (i.e. glass/steel), (2) enhanced automotive power, fuel efficiency and reduced pollution, and (3) enhanced heating efficiency. The excellent chemical stability will be used in harsh chemical gas separations like H2/Cl2 in chlor-alkali processes or HF-fluorine separations.