Polymer blended membranes

Claim 1

A thin film membrane comprising a single phase blend of: (1) from 1% to 70% by weight of a heteropoly acid or salts thereof having the generic formula: A.sub.m [X.sub.x Y.sub.y O.sub.z ]. nH.sub.2 O, in which X is selected from the group consisting of boron, aluminum, gallium, silicon, germanium, tin, phosphorus, arsenic, antimony, bismuth, selenium, tellurium, iodine, and metals of the first, second, third, and fourth transitional metal series of the Periodic Table, where Y is dissimilar from X and is selected from at least one metal of the first, second, third, and fourth transitional metal series of the Periodic Table, where A is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, ammonium, sodium, potassium, lithium, rubidium, cesium, beryllium, magnesium, calcium, strontium and barium, where m is an integer of from about 1 to 10, where y is an integer of from 6 to 12 based on x being equal to 1, where z is an integer of from 30 to 80, and where n is an integer of from 3 to 100 and, (2) from 99% to 30% by weight of a polymer compatible with said compound selected from the group consisting of poly(vinyl alcohol), poly(vinyl fluoride), polyethylene oxide, polyethyleneimine, polyacryclic acid, polyethylene glycol, cellulose acetate, polyvinylmethylethyl ether and phenol formaldehyde resins, said blend containing a multiplicity of electrically conductive particles forming a portion of said membrane, the particles being of a size sufficient so that portions of the surfaces of each of said particles are coexistent with or extend beyond each opposing surface of said membrane.

Claim 16

A method for the preparation of a thin film organic-inorganic membrane which comprises dissolving in a mutually miscible solvent at solution conditions for a period of time sufficient to form a single phase blend (1) a heteropoly acid or salt thereof having the generic formula: A.sub.m [X.sub.x Y.sub.y O.sub.z ]. nH.sub.2 O, in which X is selected from the group consisting of boron, aluminum, gallium, silicon, germanium, tin, phosphorus, arsenic, antimony, bismuth, selenium, tellurium, iodine, and metals of the first, second, third, and fourth transitional metal series of the Periodic Table, where Y is dissimilar from X and is selected from at least one metal of the first, second, third, and fourth transitional metal series of the Periodic Table, where A is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, ammonium, sodium, potassium, lithium, rubidium, cesium, beryllium, magnesium, calcium, strontium and barium, where m is an integer of from about 1 to 10, where y is an integer of from 6 to 12 based on x being equal to 1, where z is an integer of from 30 to 80, and where n is an integer of from 3 to 100 and, (2) a polymer selected from the group consisting of poly(vinyl alcohol), poly(vinyl fluoride), polyethylene oxide, polyethyleneimine, polyacryclic acid, polyethylene glycol, cellulose acetate, polyvinylmethylethyl ether and phenol formaldehyde resins, casting said blend on a casting surface, removing said solvent and recovering the resultant membrane, said heteropoly acid or salt being employed in said blend in an amount of from 1% to 70% by weight and said polymer being employed in an amount of from 99% to 30% by weight, each based on the total weight of the heteropoly acid or salt and the polymer, said blend including electrically conductive particles being of a size sufficient and said membrane being cast of a thickness so that portions of the surfaces of each of said particles are coexistent with or extend beyond each opposing surface of said membrane.

Claim 17

A method for the preparation of a thin film organic-inorganic membrane which comprises dissolving in a mutually miscible solvent at solution conditions for a period of time sufficient to form a single phase blend (1) a heteropoly acid or salt thereof having the generic formula: A.sub.m [X.sub.x Y.sub.y O.sub.z ]. nH.sub.2 O, in which X is selected from the group consisting of boron, aluminum, gallium, silicon, germanium, tin, phosphorus, arsenic, antimony, bismuth, selenium, tellurium, iodine, and metals of the first, second, third, and fourth transitional metal series of the Periodic Table, where Y is dissimilar from X and is selected from at least one metal of the first, second, third, and fourth transitional metal series of the Periodic Table, where A is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, ammonium, sodium, potassium, lithium, rubidium, cesium, beryllium, magnesium, calcium, strontium and barium, where m is an integer of from about 1 to 10, where y is an integer of from 6 to 12 based on x being equal to 1, where z is an integer of from 30 to 80, and where n is an integer of from 3 to 100 and, (2) a polymer selected from the group consisting of poly(vinyl alcohol), poly(vinyl fluoride), polyethylene oxide, polyethyleneimine, polyacryclic acid, polyethylene glycol, cellulose acetate, polyvinylmethylethyl ether and phenol formaldehyde resins, casting said blend on a casting surface, removing said solvent and recovering the resultant membrane, said heteropoly acid or salt being employed in said blend in an amount of from 1% to 70% by weight and said polymer being employed in an amount of from 99% to 30% by weight, each based on the total weight of the heteropoly acid or salt and the polymer, said blend including electrically conductive particles being of a size sufficient and said membrane being cast of a thickness so that portions of the surfaces of each of said particles are coexistent with or extend beyond each opposing surface of said membrane.