Synthesis and characterization of porous polymer membranes produced by interparticle crosslinking

By interparticle crosslinking of suspensions of polyacrylic acid with diglycidyl ether a gel with three-dimensional network structure is obtained which has been successfully used for producing porous polymer membranes. The permeability of these membranes varied by more than four orders of magnitude depending on the concentration of the polyacrylic acid and the particle size, respectively. The permeability of the membranes was calculated either from the structural parameters or determined experimental by analysis of the gas transport through the membrane according to the law of Darcy. A comparison of these permeability coefficients shows a good agreement. This allows the prediction of the membrane permeability from the synthesis conditions like particle size and solid content of the dispersion.