Journal of Polymer Science Part B: Polymer Physics, Vol.36, No.9, 1547-1556, 1998
Suppression of CO2-plasticization by semiinterpenetrating polymer network formation
CO2-induced plasticization may significantly spoil the membrane performance in high-pressure CO2/CH4 separations. The polymer matrix swells upon sorption of CO2, which accelerates the permeation of CH4. The polymer membrane looses its selectivity. To make membuanes attractive for, for example, natural gas upgrading, plasticization should be minimized. In this article we study a polymer membrane stabilization by a semiinterpenetrating polymer network (s-ipn) formation. For this purpose, the polyimide Matrimid 5218 is blended with the oligomer Thermid FA-700 and subsequently heat treated at 265 degrees C. Homogeneous films are prepared with different Matrimid/Thermid ratios and different curing times. The stability of the modified membrane is tested with permeation experiments with pure CO2 as well as CO2/CH4 gas mixtures. The original membrane shows a minimum in its permeability vs. pressure curves, but the modified membranes do not indicating suppressed plasticization. Membrane performances for CO2/CH4 gas mixtures showed that the plasticizing effect indeed accelerates the permeation of methane. The modified membrane clearly shows suppression of the undesired methane acceleration. It was also found that just blending Matrimid and Ther mid was not sufficient to suppress plasticization. The subsequent heat treatment that results in the s-ipn was necessary to obtain a stabilized permeability.
Keywords:MEMBRANES