Thermo-mechanical and Gas Transport behavior of Silica Doped Polymer Blend Nanocomposites

Blending of polymers enhances the transport rate of gases due to cross linking of polymer chains. Nanofillers are dispersed into single polymer matrix also tends to modify the transport behavior. Polymer blend nanocomposites show the change in their thermo-mechanical and gas transport properties. Blending plays a vital role in improving gas permeation. Silica nanoparticles are used as filler with Polycarbonate and Polysulfone polymer matrix. The membranes were prepared using solution cast method and the uniform dispersion of silica nanoparticles was obtained by sonication. The gas permeability test for H-2 and CO2 was carried at 30 psi constant upstream pressure at room temperature using constant pressure/variable volume method. Oxygen permeability was determined from oxygen transmission rate (OTR) using differential pressure method. Thermo-mechanical properties were carried our using DSC and DMA.