Acetate-functional thermally rearranged polyimides based on 2,2-bis(3-amino-4-hydroxyphenyl)hexafluoropropane and various dianhydrides for gas separations

Wenfang Liu*, Wei Xie

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

27 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Three acetate-functional polyimides based on 2,2-bis(3-amino-4-hydroxy- phenyl)hexafluoropropane (APAF) and dianhydrides with different linking groups (-O-, -CO-, and -C(CF3)2-) were prepared, from which films were prepared and thermally rearranged (TR) to form poly(benzoxazole) dense membranes. The polymers were characterized by 1H nuclear magnetic resonance, Fourier transform infrared, differential scanning calrimetry, thermogravimetric analysis-mass spectrometry, and wide-angle X-ray diffraction. Transport properties of the TR membranes were investigated, and effects of the linking group and TR conversion rate on the membrane performance were discussed. Among the TR polymers studied, those bearing larger linking groups have higher d-spacing, fractional free volume, and gas permeability. The membrane permeability to gases increases with TR conversion rate and follows the order H2 > CO2 > O2 > N2 > CH4, except that CO2 surpasses H2 in APAF-6FDA-TR450. The CO2/CH4 separation performance of all of the TR polymers studied surpasses Robeson's 1991 upper bound (J. Membr. Sci. 1991, 62 (2), 165-185), and APAF-6FDA-TR450 is most favorable, the performance of which is closest to the 2008 upper bound (J. Membr. Sci. 2008, 320 (1-2), 390-400).

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)871-879
Number of pages9
JournalIndustrial and Engineering Chemistry Research
Volume53
Issue number2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 15 Jan 2014
Externally publishedYes

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