Non-Fickian water vapor sorption dynamics by nafion membranes

M. Barclay Satterfleld, J. B. Benziger

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

160 Scopus citations

Abstract

Dynamics of water absorption from a saturated vapor and water desorption into dry air for Nafion 1100 EW ionomers have been measured for film thicknesses between 51 and 606 μm and at temperatures ranging from 30 to 90 °C. Water absorption and desorption exhibit two distinct non-Fickian characteristics: (1) desorption is 10 times faster than absorption and (2) the normalized mass change does not collapse to a single master curve when plotted against time normalized by membrane thickness squared, t/2, for either absorption or desorption. Water desorption data were fit well by a model in which diffusion is rapid and interfacial mass transport resistance is the rate-limiting process for water loss. Water absorption is described by a two-stage process. At early times, interfacial mass transport controls water absorption, and at longer times, water absorption is controlled by the dynamics of polymer swelling and relaxation.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)3693-3704
Number of pages12
JournalJournal of Physical Chemistry B
Volume112
Issue number12
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 27 2008

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Materials Chemistry
  • Surfaces, Coatings and Films
  • Physical and Theoretical Chemistry

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