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

这个小型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，这家公司已经展示了在微孔载体上制造玻璃氟聚合物薄膜(小于0.5微米)的能力。通过在我们的无孔玻璃氟聚合物上放置一层超薄的高选择性聚合物(50A至200A)，该公司希望制造出既具有高选择性又具有高通量的膜。建立这种超薄层(50A至200A)的技术包括(A)表面的化学修饰，(B)表面的超薄层涂层和(C)顶层的致密化。到目前为止，这一概念一直非常有限，因为不存在稳定的、高通量、高自由体积的无孔膜。在第一阶段，该公司将展示超薄膜复合材料的概念。介绍了一种新型玻璃状高自由体积含氟聚合物，它们具有极高的透气性、对挥发性有机物的低渗透性、良好的选择性和极好的稳定性。玻璃的性质使其可以很容易地制成高通量的非多孔薄膜。这些独特的含氟聚合物可以制造出新颖而有价值的膜结构。基于这种玻璃氟聚合物优异的成膜能力、优异的气体通量和高选择性，应用领域包括：(I)工业应用(如玻璃/钢铁)生产富氧空气；(2)提高汽车动力、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，如氯碱工艺中的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.