Wetting Properties of Membranes

摘要

The surface and interfacial properties of proton-conducting ion-exchange membranes are quite important in their application as solid polymer electrolytes in fuel cells and other electrochemical devices. Radiation-grafted membranes have been characterized by measuring the contact angles of several liquids on their surfaces as a function of parameters in their preparation and composition. Wetting and surface properties were found to vary systematically as a function of graft level and other preparation parameters. For comparison purposes, some commercial perfluorinated membranes were also analysed. Qualitatively their surface energies and surface energy components resemble those of the radiation-grafted membranes. Contact angle measurements and a dyeing method for evaluating membrane homogeneity are compared and discussed.