Polyphosphazine-based polymer materials

• US 7,723,463 B2
• Filed: 04/12/2006
• Issued: 05/25/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/12/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Battelle Energy Alliance LLC (Battelle Memorial Institute), Montana State University
• Original Assignee: Battelle Energy Alliance LLC (Battelle Memorial Institute)
• Inventors: Fox, Robert V., Avci, Recep, Groenewold, Gary S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lipman; Bernard
• Application Number:
  US11/279,414
• Publication Number:
  US 20070240733A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,504 Days
• Field of Search: 528/399
• US Class Current: 528/399
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 7/0014 by incorporation in a layer which is removed with the contaminants
• CPC Class Codes: C08G 65/34 from hydroxy compounds or their metallic derivatives C08G65/26 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C08G 79/025 Polyphosphazenes
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 85/02 containing phosphorus

Abstract

Methods of removing contaminant matter from porous materials include applying a polymer material to a contaminated surface, irradiating the contaminated surface to cause redistribution of contaminant matter, and removing at least a portion of the polymer material from the surface. Systems for decontaminating a contaminated structure comprising porous material include a radiation device configured to emit electromagnetic radiation toward a surface of a structure, and at least one spray device configured to apply a capture material onto the surface of the structure. Polymer materials that can be used in such methods and systems include polyphosphazine-based polymer materials having polyphosphazine backbone segments and side chain groups that include selected functional groups. The selected functional groups may include iminos, oximes, carboxylates, sulfonates, β-diketones, phosphine sulfides, phosphates, phosphites, phosphonates, phosphinates, phosphine oxides, monothio phosphinic acids, and dithio phosphinic acids.

Claims

1. A polyphosphazine-based polymer material comprising a plurality of polyphosphazine backbones having a chemical structure represented as

2. The polyphospazine-based polymer material of claim 1, wherein n is an integer between about 6,000 and about 10,000.

3. The polyphospazine-based polymer material of claim 1, wherein a film of the polyphosphazine-based polymer material having a thickness of less than about one centimeter is substantially transparent to at least one wavelength of radiation in a range extending from about 200 nanometers to about 25 centimeters.

4. The polyphosphazine-based polymer material of claim 1, wherein the polyphosphazine-based polymer material is configured to exhibit an average pull index with respect to a material to which it is applied in a range extending from about 40 cm⁻

1 to about 200 cm<sup>−

1</sup>.

5. The polyphosphazine-based polymer material of claim 4, wherein the polyphosphazine-based polymer material is configured to exhibit an average pull index with respect to a material to which it is applied in a range extending from about 60 cm⁻

1 to about 100 cm<sup>−

1</sup>.

6. The polyphosphazine-based polymer of claim 1, wherein the polyphosphazine-based polymer material exhibits a maximum tensile strength in a range extending from about 1 MPa to about 60 MPa.

7. The polyphosphazine-based polymer material of claim 1, wherein R₂ comprises an alkyl group.

8. The polyphosphazine-based polymer material of claim 1, wherein R₂ comprises a phosphorous atom of a polyphosphazine backbone or a plurality of atoms providing a covalently bonded link to a phosphorous atom of a polyphosphazine backbone.

9. The polyphosphazine-based polymer material of claim 1, wherein the polyphosphazine-based polymer material comprises a copolymer material.