Current personal protection equipment used for defense against chemical warfare agents (CWAs) is generally semi-permeable (e.g., protective suits) or impermeable (e.g., butyl rubber gloves, boots, and masks). Whereas protective suits consist of activated carbon to provide protection against CWAs, butyl rubber barriers prevent CWA penetration due to its low porosity. The added weight of the carbon and reduced moisture permeation of the rubber leads to increased physiological burden to the Warfighter. One approach to overcoming this burden is to introduce nanoparticles into the polymers for enhanced CWA uptake per unit mass as well as increased moisture permeation; however, polymer-based mixed-matrix systems comprised of nanoparticles, such as metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), often suffer from defects at the MOF-polymer interface. In materials for defense against CWAs, these defects lead to catastrophic failure and potentially death. To combat this deficiency and enhance compatibility between MOF and polymer, we herein present modifications to the archetypal MOFs UiO-66-NH2 and CuBTC using acyl chloride chemistry. In the former, modifications were made directly to the amine group on the linker. In the latter, we developed a novel CuBTC variant incorporating 5-aminoisophthalic acid followed by amide formation. In all cases, resulting composites, both in film and fiber form, had better MOF dispersion, reduced defects, and enhanced mechanical properties. The modifications also enhanced stability of the MOF in high humidity environments. This research will lead directly to more breathable materials with reduced physiological burden for the Warfighter.

Enhanced polymer compatibility via modification of metal-organic frameworks for enhanced chemical biological protection

2019 Fall National Meeting

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