The Effect of Divinyl Benzene in Polystyrene Characteristics and Its Polyblend with Lignosulfonate

• Main Author: RAKHMA HUSEIN (NIM 10505040), RIFTI
• Format: Final Project
• Language: Indonesia
• Online Access: https://digilib.itb.ac.id/gdl/view/12569
• Institution: Institut Teknologi Bandung

Application of polymer science for alternative energy discovery have been developed recently. Along side with the increase of energy demand, discovery of this new alternative energy is very promising and enviromentally friendly. One of fuel cell, Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell (PEMFC) use polymer as electrolyte membrane. This membrane is use as proton transfer media. In this research, polyblend of sulfonated polystyrene (PSS)-lignosulfonate (LS) are added divynil benzene (DVB) in order to synthesis the membrane. Polystyrene was sulfonated in order to have –SO3H group which has the ability to transfer proton. The using of LS is to increase the mechanical strength and the conductivity of membrane, and the addition of DVB expected to increase the mechanical stability. Polyblend was synthesized with various amount of DVB (2%, 4%, 6% and 8% (w/w)), whereas the amount of the LS used ini this polyblend preparation is constant (5%(w/w)). This membrane are characterized by Fourier Transform Infra Red (FTIR), swelling, Ion Exchange Capacity (KPI), conductivity, mechanical analysis, TGA/DTA, and XRD. Results show that the increase amount of DVB on polyblend of PSS-LS, swelling degree and mechanical strength are decreased while, the results of thermal stability and KPI are not changed significantly.