While the acidic polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) Nafion has garnered considerable attention, the active response of basic PEMs offers another realm of potential applications. For instance, the basic PEM Selemion is currently being considered in the development of a CO₂ separation prototype device to be employed in coal power plant flue gas. The mechanical integrity of this material and subsequent effects in active response in this harsh environment will become important in prototype development. A multiscale modeling approach based on rotational isomeric state theory in combination with a Monte Carlo methodology may be employed to study mechanical integrity. The approach has the potential to be adapted to address property change of any PEM in the presence of foreign species (reinforcing or poisoning), as well as temperature and hydration variations. The conformational characteristics of the Selemion polymer chain and the cluster morphology in the polymer matrix are considered in the prediction of the stiffness of Selemion in specific states.

Date Published: 2 April 2008
PDF: 6 pages
Proc. SPIE 6929, Behavior and Mechanics of Multifunctional and Composite Materials 2008, 69290M (2 April 2008); doi: 10.1117/12.776303

Published in SPIE Proceedings Vol. 6929:
Behavior and Mechanics of Multifunctional and Composite Materials 2008
Marcelo J. Dapino; Zoubeida Ounaies, Editor(s)