Current research efforts are aimed at developing hybrid polymer-vertically aligned carbon nanotube (CNT) membranes that are breathable in their native state but become blocked upon exposure to low levels of chemical warfare agents (CWA). Our approach utilizes polymers formed by ring opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP) that have a highly non-planar structure in their neutral resting state to retain the high moisture vapor transport rate of the CNT membranes. Upon reacting with CWAs, these polymers can ionize and planarize, assuming a cationic, aromatic structure. This π-stacking drives a gel collapse that will block the CNT pores. These types of polymers have been grafted from the membrane using surface initiated ROMP (SI-ROMP) on norbornene-substituted surfaces. The characterization of these responsive polymer substituted surfaces and their utility as protective membranes will be discussed. Additionally, the grafting of polymers from other surfaces and materials and related applications will be presented.

Polymer substituted vertically aligned carbon nanotube membranes for protection against aarfare agents

251st National Meeting (2016)

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