Disulfonated poly (arylene ether sulfone) copolymer (referred to as ‘BPSH-x') has been proven to be a potential material for proton exchange membranes in fuel cells via a lab-scale batch solution casting followed by a mild radiation drying. This batch casting approach is not suitable for commercial production because of its low processing rate and unsatisfactory uniformity of resultant film thickness. Thus, the practicability of continuous casting system using a reverse roll coating technique followed by intense forced convection drying has been investigated for industrial production. BPSH-x films for proton exchange membrane were successfully dried with a fairly high drying rate using a home-made batch drying convection apparatus, the air temperature and velocity of which can be controlled at the range of 25 ~ 220 °C and 0.15 ~ 2.0 m/s, respectively. Proton conductivity of solvent-cast films of BPSH-35 random copolymer in its potassium sulfate salt form showed no dependency on the solvent-casting conditions, whereas solvent-casting in its acid form induced considerable decrease in its proton conductivity most likely due to the thermal degradation of casting solvents at elevated temperature and subsequent loss of proton conducting moieties, sulfonic acid groups. However, preliminary results showed that the morphology and final performances of BPSH block copolymer cast even in its salt form are strongly dependent on the solvent-casting conditions such as solvent type, initial solution concentration, drying temperature and etc. Therefore, systematic study on the effect of solvent-casting conditions is under investigation. This study will be also extended to the development of a model that correctly relates solvent-casting conditions, morphology and final performance of BPSH polymer systems for proton exchange membrane.

Extended Abstract Status: Not Uploaded