Abstract
Pellicular γ-zirconium phosphate membrane, γ-Zr(PO4)(H2PO4).2H2O (pγ-ZrP), was prepared and characterized by XRD, TGA, FT-IR and TEM . Its ion exchange capacity found to be equal to 6.27meq/g. The nanosized of (pγ-ZrP) , calculated from the x-ray broadening method using Scherer’s equation, found to be ~ 25 nm. Its average size from TEM found to be ~ 21 nm. Novel poly(vinylalcohol) / pellicular γ-zirconium phosphate composite membranes were synthesized by mixing slurry aqueous solution of (pγ-ZrP) of different weight percentages (5,10,15, 20 wt %) with aqueous solution of 10% poly(vinylalcohol) (PVA) in concentration at 45°C, with stirring for 48 h. The resultant nanocomposite membranes were homogeneous flexible thin films. The inorganic filler (pγ-ZrP) was well dispersed in the organic polymer matrix. They were characterized by XRD, and TGA , their ion exchange capacity was determined, found to be ~ 3meq/g. The composite thin films show to have mechanical and thermal properties which were superior to that of the neat polymer. The resultant composite membranes are promising materials for utilization in fuel cells and as new sorbents.