目的 本研究旨在对聚丙烯/聚乙烯(PP/PE)复合湿法无纺布基膜材料进行亲水改性,探究电子束预辐射法对膜布材料的改性工艺,在保持该材料力学性能的同时,提升其在碱性电池中的电解液浸润性与离子传导性,从而开发具有高吸液性与低电阻的碱性电池隔膜。方法 使用电子加速器对PP/PE复合膜布进行预辐射处理,随后在丙烯酸与α-烯基磺酸盐混合溶液中进行接枝反应。系统考察辐射强度、反应时间对接枝率及隔膜性能的影响,并通过吸液性能、力学强度、电化学阻抗与接触角等测试对不同程度改性后的膜布进行综合表征。结果 在辐射强度为100 kGy、单体质量分数为5%、反应温度为60 ℃、反应时间为6~8 h的优化条件下,接枝率达到44%~52%,膜布的综合性能得到大幅度提高。改性后的膜布吸液倍率由115%提升至最高420%,吸液速度由超过180 s缩短至24 s,湿电阻由1.85 Ω·cm2降至0.15 Ω·cm2,纵向最大拉断力保持在65 N以上。结论 电子束预辐射接枝法可显著提升PP/PE复合湿法无纺布的亲液性、离子传导性与尺寸稳定性,综合性能优异,具备良好的工业化应用潜力。
Abstract
This study aims to develop a high-performance and safe battery separator by modifying polypropylene/ polyethylene (PP/PE) composite wet-laid nonwoven fabric via electron beam pre-irradiation grafting technology, to enhance the separator's electrolyte wettability and ionic conductivity in alkaline batteries while rigorously maintaining its inherent mechanical properties—a critical parameter often compromised in conventional hydrophilic modifications.
Firstly, the PP/PE composite fabric was subjected to pre-irradiation with an electron accelerator to generate active sites. Subsequently, a grafting reaction was carried out in a mixed aqueous solution containing acrylic acid (AA) and α-olefin sulfonate (AOS) monomers. The synergistic action of these monomers was designed to impart durable hydrophilicity and potential sulfonic acid groups for improved ion transport. The effects of key processing parameters, including irradiation dose (kGy) and reaction time (h), on the grafting ratio and the resulting separator performance were systematically investigated. A comprehensive characterization of the modified membranes was performed, including evaluations of liquid absorption capacity and kinetics, mechanical strength (tensile testing), electrochemical performance (electrochemical impedance spectroscopy for area-specific resistance), and surface properties (contact angle measurements).
Under the optimized process conditions (irradiation dose: 100 kGy, monomer concentration: 5wt.%, reaction temperature: 60 ℃, reaction time: 6-8 h), a grafting ratio of 44% to 52% was achieved. This significant grafting level led to a remarkable enhancement in the separator's overall performance. The liquid absorption ratio increased dramatically from an initial 115% to a maximum of 420%, indicating a vastly improved porosity and affinity for the electrolyte. Concurrently, the electrolyte absorption time was drastically reduced from over 180 seconds to just 24 seconds, confirming superior wettability and capillary action. Most notably, the area-specific resistance (ASR) in the wet state, a direct indicator of ionic conductivity, decreased substantially from 1.85 Ω·cm2 to 0.15 Ω·cm2. This order-of-magnitude reduction was pivotal for minimizing internal resistance in battery applications. Importantly, these enhancements were achieved without sacrificing mechanical integrity. The longitudinal maximum tensile strength was maintained above 65 N, ensuring the separator's dimensional stability and mechanical robustness during cell assembly and operation.
The electron beam pre-irradiation grafting method has been successfully demonstrated as a highly effective technique for significantly improving the hydrophilicity (or more precisely, hydrophilicity towards electrolytes) and ionic conductivity of PP/PE composite wet-laid nonwoven fabric. The modified separator exhibits an excellent balance of properties: exceptional electrolyte uptake and wicking speed, dramatically reduced ionic resistance, and preserved mechanical/dimensional stability. This unique combination of performance metrics, achieved through a controllable radical grafting process, underscores the material's strong potential for industrial application as a next-generation separator in high-power alkaline batteries, where both safety and performance are paramount. Future work may focus on long-term stability tests in full cell configurations and further optimization of the monomer blend for targeted applications.
关键词
辐射接枝 /
电子加速器 /
亲水改性 /
电池隔膜 /
吸液性能
Key words
radiation grafting /
electron accelerator /
hydrophilic modification /
battery separator /
liquid absorption performance
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基金
河南省电子束辐射工程技术研究中心运行经费(20251015002); 河南省辐射化学新材料重点实验室运行经费(20251015001)