Statistical mechanics of diffusion in polymers: Conductivity and electroosmosis in ion exchange membranes

The dependency of swelling of an ion exchange membrane and its ion-exchange capacity on the conductivity and electroosmosis are investigated. The analysis is based on a rigorous statistical mechanics theory employing the formalism of the generalized Nernst–Planck equation in the dusty gas membrane model. The simulation uses binary diffusivities computed from experimental data. Some unexpected conclusions can be drawn from the computed transport characteristics: at constant swelling of the polymeric membrane the equivalent conductivity decreases with the exchange capacity; the enhancement of conductivity by electroosmosis is rather poor, in all cases smaller than 15 %; conductivity of the material is more dependent on its exchange capacity than on swelling.