Jürgen Reiche, Helmut Kamusewitz, Manuela Keller, Ludwig Brehmer, Florencio Peñacorada

• The Langmuir-Blodgett (LB-) technique is used to deposit molecular reinforced separation layers on porous polymer substrates resulting in composite membranes for gas separation. The adsorption of a polycation to the arachidic acid Langmuir layer and the subsequent transfer of the highly ordered and stabilised monolayer onto a polypropylene membrane (Cellgard 2400) yields a laminated separation layer combining the advantageous high degree of order of fatty acid films and the stability of thin polymeric films. X-ray reflectivity data of these films confirm the transfer of the assembled polymer layer together with the fatty acid monolayer and the formation of ordered Y-type LB-films. SFM pictures show a dense film without pinholes completely covering the porous support. Gas permeation measurements are used to study the transport process of different gases through the composite membrane.