Abstract

REALPE, Álvaro; MENDEZ, Nayilis; TOSCANO, Eduardo  and  ACEVEDO, María T. Synthesis and Physicochemical Characterization of a Membrane Loaded with TiO₂ Prepared from sulfonation of a Copolymer of Acrylic Ester and Styrene. Inf. tecnol. [online]. 2015, vol.26, n.5, pp.97-104. ISSN 0718-0764.  http://dx.doi.org/10.4067/S0718-07642015000500013.

Proton exchange membranes were prepared from a copolymer of acrylic ester and styrene, and their physicochemical properties were investigated for application in fuel cells. The properties of the membrane were modified from the sulfonation reaction and addition of titanium dioxide (TiO₂). Physicochemical characterization of water uptake, ion exchange capacity and thermal analysis were carried out to the membranes prepared. The sulfonated-loaded membrane (SC) presented ion exchange capacity of 0.27 meq/g, water uptake of 25.8% and tensile strength of 4.63 MPa. These results confirm that the introduction of sulfonic groups and TiO₂ addiction improve the physiochemical properties of the unmodified membrane, indicating that the prepared membranes have potential for applications in proton exchange fuel cells.

Keywords : copolymer of acrylic ester; styrene; polymeric membrane; proton exchange.

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