CARBON SURFACE MODIFICATIONS TO ACHIEVE HYDROPHOBICITY

PERFECT VIEW INC. AND THE PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR, DR. A. J. ATTAR, HAVE RECENTLY OBTAINED A PATENT ON A METHOD TO REMOVE MINERAL WATER FROM COAL BY FIRST TURNING ITS SURFACE HYDROPHOBIC (U.S. PATENT 4,597,769, ISSUED JULY 1ST, 1986). THE TREATMENT INVOLVES A VERY LOW-COST CHEMICAL REACTION WHICH CONVERTS THE HYDROXLIC AND CARBOXYLIC SURFACE FUNCTIONALITIES TO ETHERS AND ESTERS. THIS TREATMENT REDUCES THE PROTICITY OF THE SURFACE BUT DOES NOT INFLUENCE MUCH THE POLARIZABLE SURFACE FUNTIONALITIES. THEREFORE, WE EXPECT THAT IT WILL REDUCE SIGNIFICANTLY THE ADHERENCE AND SORPTION OF WATER TO THE SURFACE BUT WILL HAVE LITTLE OR NO EFFECT ON THE SORPTION OF WARFARE GASES. IN THIS PROJECT DIFFERENT SURFACE TREATMENTS WILL BE EXAMINED IN THE SPIRIT OF THE PATENT AND THEIR EFFECT ON THE SORPTION OF WARFARE GAS (WG) SIMULANTS WILL BE EXAMINED IN THE ABSENCE AND IN THE PRESENCE OF CONTROLLED AMOUNTS OF HUMIDITY. SHOULD TREATMENTS AT SOME CONDITIONS APPEAR TO REDUCE THE SENSITIVITY OF THE SORPTION OF WG TO THE RELATIVE HUMIDITY, THE PROCESSING CONDITIONS WILL BE OPTIMIZED TO OBTAIN "WATER-RESISTANT" CARBON SUPPORT.