Incorporation of zeolites into hybrid polymer matrices

US6248682A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Worcester Polytechnic Institute · US

Inventors

• Robert William Thompson · Camberley, GB
• Bradd Elden Libby · Portland, US
• Mary B. Berry · Worcester, US
• Klaus Rose · Mundelsheim, DE
• Karl-Heinz Haas · Gerbrunn, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Nov 23, 1999
• Grant date: Jun 19, 2001
• Expiry date: Nov 23, 2019

Classification

• Technology area (CPC C): Chemistry; Metallurgy
• CPC primary: C09D183/04
• WIPO field: Macromolecular chemistry, polymers
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

A family of innovative composite zeolite materials and methods for making the same are disclosed. Zeolites 3A and 13X have been incorporated into hybrid polysiloxane polymers to form composite materials which are useful as membranes for separating a variety of gaseous and liquid materials. Thermal curing, thermal drying and UV curing were utilized to initiate polymer crosslinking reactions and bond the polymers to zeolite surfaces. Thin film samples exhibited nitrogen adsorption as high as 126 cc/g and specific surface area of up to 390 m.sup.2 /g. Infrared characterization spectra and TEM analysis indicated that polymeric matrices bonded to zeolite surfaces. Pore size of the composite membrane films may be tailored for specific separation applications through choice of zeolite and polymer compositions, curing method, and post-synthesis membrane treatments.