Air Activated Self‐Decontaminating Polydicyclopentadiene PolyHIPE Foams for Rapid Decontamination of Chemical Warfare Agents
Abstract
The threat of chemical warfare agents (CWA) compels research into novel self‐decontaminating materials (SDM) for the continued safety of first‐responders, civilians, and active service personnel. The capacity to actively detoxify, as opposed to merely sequester, offending agents under typical environmental conditions defines the added value of SDMs in comparison to traditional adsorptive materials. Porous polymers, synthesized via the high internal phase emulsion (HIPE) templating, provide a facile fabrication method for materials with permeable open cellular structures that may serve in air filtration applications. PolyHIPEs comprising polydicyclopentadiene (polyDCPD) networks form stable hydroperoxide species following activation in air under ambient conditions. The hydroperoxide‐containing polyDCPD materials react quickly with CWA simulants, Demeton‐S and 2‐chloroethyl ethyl sulfide, forming oxidation products as confirmed via gas chromatography mass spectrometry. The simplicity of the detoxification chemistry paired with the porous foam form factor presents an exciting opportunity for the development of self‐decontaminating filter media.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Pub Defense Publication
- Publication Date
- May 22, 2018
- Source ID
- 10.1002/marc.201800194
Entities
People
- Christopher L McGann
- Grant C. Daniels
- James H Wynne
- Jeffrey G Lundin
- Jorge L. Miranda‐zayas
- Robert B Balow
- Spencer L. Giles
Organizations
- American Society for Engineering Education
- Office of Naval Research
- United States Naval Research Laboratory