Electroosmotic Water Vapor Transport across Novel, Smart, Functionalized Conducting Polymer Microporous Membranes in Active Mode at Very High Rates, with Concomitant Chemical Warfare (CW) Agent Blocking

Electroosmotic water vapor transport (WVT) across very thin, flexible, functionalized conducting polymer (CP) microporous (μP) membranes at a very high rate is reported. Both passive and active (6 VDC applied) WVT are reported, the latter for the first time ever. WVT occurs with concomitant, effective blocking of chemical warfare (CW) agents, again demonstrated for the first time ever. Initial active liquid||membrane||liquid interface studies demonstrated WVT rates of >1.7 × 10-5g .mm-2s-1, >3 × the highest prior reported values of 5 × 10-6g.mm-2s-1. Subsequent vapor||membrane|| vapor interface studies using industry-standard methods (including ASTM E96B Upright Cup (“WVT”), ASTM F2298 (“Dynamic Moisture Permeation Cell”) and ASTM F1868 (“Sweating Guard Hotplate”) were done at independent, external labs for independent corroboration. These yielded, e.g., WVT values of2564.4 g.m2.d-1 (passive) and3706.7 g.m2d-1 (active), to be compared with the highest (passive) value ever reported previously,984.8 g.m2.d-1 for a μP-Nylon membrane. More than 15 different membrane configurations, porosities and types were studied, including membranes with CP + organophosphate hydrolase (OPH), an enzyme reactive to CW agents. Efficient blocking of the actual CW agents GB, HD, VX is also reported, using the TOP-8-2-501standard. Membranes also passed all Industry-standard durability tests, e.g. ASTM D2261 (Tearing), ASTM D5034 (Breaking), ASTM D3886 (Abrasion), ASTM F392 (Gelbo Flex). Incorporation into smart soldiers’ garments was demonstrated; power consumption was -2. Mechanisms of enhanced WVT and CW agent blocking in the membranes are discussed.