Improved gas selectivity of polyetherimide membrane by the incorporation of PIM polyimide phase

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Abstract
The aim of this work was to prepare blend membranes of a polyetherimide (PEI) and different ratios of a microporous polyimide (PIM‐B) in order to obtain an improved material for gas selectivity. Miscibility of the membranes was studied through fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Fluorescence, ultraviolet‐visible spectroscopy (UV–vis), polarize light microscope images, X‐ray diffraction (XRD), and differential scanning calorimetry analysis. Gas permeability assays were also performed. Results showed blends were partially miscible along the different ratios due to the existence of: (i) absorption shoulders at lower wavenumbers on the carbonyl stretching band; (ii) red‐shifting of Fluorescence and UV–vis absorption bands; (iii) decreasing of d‐spacing as the amount of PIM‐B phase increased; and (iv) composition‐dependent glass transition temperatures (Tgs). The mobility selectivity (Di/j) dominated H2 and O2 gas separations. High solubility coefficients (S) linked to PIM‐B microporosity improved the ideal gas selectivity of the blend membranes. PEI/PIM‐B membrane at the ratio of 80/20 showed impressive H2/CO2 (8.66) and O2/N2 (10.90) gas separation factors. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2017, 134, 44682.

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