Surface functionalization of polymer networks: Sulfonation of the internal surface of macroporous styrene-divinylbenzene copolymers

Abstract

Surface functionalization of porous polymer networks was investigated using the sulfonation of macroporous styrene-divinylbenzene (S-DVB) copolymers as model reaction. Reaction conditions for the surface sulfonation were studied. Sulfonation with sulfuric acid in the presence of nitromethane was found to be a suitable method. Models and ideas of network structure are developed in order to estimate surface capacities and to show that surface-sulfonated networks were obtained. © 1996 Hüthig & Wepf Verlag,.