Oxygen-enriching properties of silicone rubber crosslinked membrane containing cobalt

A poly(dimethylsiloxane) containing 5% vinyl groups (molar percentage) as a matrix material, 2,4,6,8-tetramethylcyclotetrasiloxane as a crosslinking agent and chlorine platinum acid as a catalyst were used to prepare a silicone rubber crosslinked membrane containing cobalt by an addition reaction between the silicon–hydrogen atom and the vinyl group. The solution casting and undergoing crosslinking reactions were carried out simultaneously at room temperature. The effects of pressure difference, temperature, mechanical property and the contents of vinyl acetic acid cobalt in the membrane on the oxygen-enriching property were discussed. The studies on permselectivities showed that permeability coefficients for oxygen and ideal separation factors for oxygen and nitrogen were increased simultaneously at low pressure difference. For example, at 20 °C and pressure difference of 0.05 MPa, for the crosslinked membrane containing vinyl acetic acid cobalt of 10% (mass fraction), the permeability coefficient for oxygen and ideal separation factors for oxygen and nitrogen were 690 Barrer and 3.42, respectively. The results showed the silicone rubber crosslinked membrane containing cobalt had better oxygen-enriching property than other silicone rubber membranes.