TECHNICAL NOTE: WATER VAPOR TRANSMISSION RATE AND PERMEANCE OF CELLULOSE NANOCRYSTALS/POLYDIMETHYLSILOXANE HYBRID MEMBRANES MEASURED BY DYNAMIC VAPOR SORPTION

Authors

  • Ling Li School of Forest Resources University of Maine
  • Nasim Alikhani School of Forest Resources University of Maine
  • Jacob Snow School of Forest Resources University of Maine
  • Jinwu Wang Research Forest Products Technologist USDA Forest Service, Forest Products Laboratory

Keywords:

CNC/PDMS membrane, Dynamic vapor sorption analyzer, Permeance, Water vapor transmission rate (WVTR).

Abstract

This article describes a fast and reliable method of screening membrane materials designed by measuring moisture vapor transmission rate (WVTR) and permeance of membrane materials using a Payne-style diffusion cell (dry cup) placed in a Dynamic Vapor Sorption DVS) instrument. The materials were cellulose nanocrystals (CNC)/polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) hybrid membranes. A casting method was used to fabricate three types of membrane samples. The WVTR and permeance of the samples were measured at two relative humidity (RH) levels if 60% and 80% at 25OC. The results revealed that the WVTR and permeance of PDMS membrane samples were increased by 34.33% to 39.69% after adding 1 wt% of CNC in the PDMS matrix. WVTR of all samples increased as RH increased from 60% to 80%, but the permeance decreased with increasing RH. The results of all three types of samples showed good consistency in terms of data discrepancy and the trends of WVTR and permeance with RH. Due to the small sample size, the tests could be completed in a few hours at elevates RHs in comparison with the commonly used Mason jar method according to American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) E96/E96M-16. Therefore, the Payne cell method in DVS can provide a fast screening of membrane materials.

Author Biographies

Ling Li, School of Forest Resources University of Maine

Assistant professor of sustainable bioenergy systems

School of Forest Resources

Jinwu Wang, Research Forest Products Technologist USDA Forest Service, Forest Products Laboratory

Research Forest Products Technologist

USDA Forest Service, Forest Products Laboratory

References

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Published

2022-11-29 — Updated on 2022-11-29

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