Due to the high affinity of ceria (CeO2) towards carbon dioxide (CO2) and the high thermal and mechanical properties of cellulose triacetate (CTA) polymer, mixed-matrix CTA-CeO2 membranes were fabricated. A facile solution-casting method was used for the fabrication process. CeO2 nanoparticles at concentrations of 0.32, 0.64 and 0.9 wt.% were incorporated into the CTA matrix. The physico-chemical properties of the membranes were evaluated by SEM-EDS, XRD, FTIR, TGA, DSC and strain-stress analysis. Gas sorption and permeation affinity were evaluated using different single gases. The CTA-CeO2 (0.64) membrane matrix showed a high affinity towards CO2 sorption. Almost complete saturation of CeO2 nanoparticles with CO2 was observed, even at low pressure. Embedding CeO2 nanoparticles led to increased gas permeability compared to pristine CTA. The highest gas permeabilities were achieved with 0.64 wt.%, with a threefold increase in CO2 permeability as compared to pristine CTA membranes. Unwanted aggregation of the filler nanoparticles was observed at a 0.9 wt.% concentration of CeO2 and was reflected in decreased gas permeability compared to lower filler loadings with homogenous filler distributions. The determined gas selectivity was in the order CO2/CH4 > CO2/N2 > O2/N2 > H2/CO2 and suggests the potential of CTA-CeO2 membranes for CO2 separation in flue/biogas applications.
In this work, novel polycarbonatediol-and polybutadienediol-based polyurethanes (PU) with promising properties were prepared and compared with an analogous polypropyleneglycol-based product. Hexamethylenediisocyanate was used as isocyanate (NCO) component. All three PU systems were subsequently modified by the incorporation of two different nanofillers (Montmorillonite clays): "Cloisite 15A" and "Bentonite for organic systems." The PUs were prepared in form of film coatings and characterized by atomic force microscopy (AFM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and wide angle X-ray scattering (WAXS). Their chemical microstructure was checked by 13 C-NMR spectroscopy.
Novel polyurethane thermoplastic elastomers were prepared from polycarbonate diols, butane-1,4-diol (chain extender) and hexamethylene diisocyanate. They differ in the kind of macrodiol used and the ratio of macrodiol to chain extender OH groups (hence, in hard segment contents). The tensile properties of the elastomers at low and elevated temperatures were determined and discussed with regard to polyurethane composition and polycarbonate diol structure.
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