Transport Processes in Polymers CHE/CHM/MAT 492

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Transport Processes in PolymersCHE/CHM/MAT 492

• Lloyd M. Robeson

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Synopsis Transport Processes in Polymers
Transport processes in polymers cover a wide
variety of subjects relevant to the utility of
polymers in a myriad of applications. One of the
major areas to be covered in these lectures
involves the transport of gases and liquids
through polymeric membranes. This area involves
the diffusion, solubility and permeability in
polymeric films and covers barrier properties for
packaging applications, membrane separation,
water purification processes. Membrane
separation processes will be emphasized as the
potential as a unit operation is increasingly
important for key separation processes due to the
low energy requirements relative to more
conventional processes. Other transport
processes of importance include thermal
conductivity and electrical conductivity which
will also be discussed. In the emerging
technologies also involving polymers, proton
transport (for fuel cell applications), lithium
ion transport (for lithium battery applications)
and hole and electron transport for advanced
optoelectronic applications (light emitting
diodes and photovoltaic devices) are increasing
important and will be covered. The major
emphasis will be placed on gas permeability and
water purification processes involving polymeric
membranes including the various membrane
fabrication processes. The lectures will
emphasize the technology with the basic
fundamentals of each process also covered.
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Course Outline
Transport Processes in Polymers 1.0 Historical
Perspective 2.0 Overview of Transport Processes
in Polymers 3.0 Gas permeability in polymers
3.1 Overview 3.2 Fundamentals
3.2.1 Permeability processes
3.2.1.1 Solution-Diffusion
3.2.1.2 Knudsen Diffusion
3.2.1.3 Surface diffusion
3.2.2 Mathematics of Diffusion
(solution-diffusion) 3.2.3 Gas
diffusion in polymers 3.2.4 Gas
solubility in polymers 3.2.5 Group
contribution methods for permeability 4.0
Measurement of gas permeability, diffusion and
solubility in polymers 5.0 Membrane fabrication
processes 6.0 Membrane separation of gases and
liquids 6.1 Gas separation by membranes
6.1.1 Upper bound concepts 6.2 Membrane
separation of vapors and liquids
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Course Outline (continued)
7.0 Water purification processes by polymeric
membranes 7.1 Reverse osmosis and
Desalination 7.2 Ultrafiltration 7.3
Microfiltration 7.4 Dialysis and
Hemodialysis 7.5 Electrodialysis 8.0
Thermal conductivity in polymers 9.0 Ion
transport in polymers 9.1 Lithium ion
transport 9.2 Proton transport in
polymers 10.0 Electrical conductivity in
polymers 11.0 Transport processes in
heterogeneous polymeric media 12.0 Relevant
commercial applications regarding transport in
polymeric materials
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Course Lecture Schedule

• August 25rd Course introduction, overview and
  historical (Sections 1 and 2) start of Section 3
  (Gas permeability in polymers)
• September 1st Section 3 Gas permeability in
  polymers
• September 8th Complete Section 3 start and
  complete Section 4 (Measurement of gas
  permeability, diffusion and solubility in
  polymers)
• September 15th Section 5 Membrane fabrication
  processes/Review before test 1
• September 22nd Test 1 Start Section 6
  Membrane separation of gases and liquids
• September 29th Complete Section 6
• October 6th Pacing Break
• October 13th Section 7 Water purification
  processes by polymeric membranes
• October 20th Complete Section 7/ Review before
  test 2

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Course Lecture Schedule (continued)

• October 27th Test 2/ Section 8 Thermal
  conductivity in polymers
• November 3rd Section 9 Ion transport in
  polymers/ start Section 10 Electrical
  conductivity in polymers
• Nov. 10th Section 10
• Nov 17th Complete Section 10/ start Section 11
  Transport processes in heterogeneous polymeric
  media
• Nov 23rd Complete Section 11 and Section 12
  Relevant commercial applications regarding
  transport in polymeric materials
• Dec. 1st Course Review
• Dec. 8th Final Exam
• The lecture schedule may be readjusted to
  compensate for the length of the different
  subjects