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Ending Aging in Super Glassy Polymer Membranes
Author(s) -
Lau Cher Hon,
Nguyen Phuc Tien,
Hill Matthew R.,
Thornton Aaron W.,
Konstas Kristina,
Doherty Cara M.,
Mulder Roger J.,
Bourgeois Laure,
Liu Amelia C. Y.,
Sprouster David J.,
Sullivan James P.,
Bastow Timothy J.,
Hill Anita J.,
Gin Douglas L.,
Noble Richard D.
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
angewandte chemie international edition
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.831
H-Index - 550
eISSN - 1521-3773
pISSN - 1433-7851
DOI - 10.1002/anie.201402234
Subject(s) - polymer , materials science , porosity , membrane , permeability (electromagnetism) , polymer chemistry , chemical engineering , side chain , porous medium , synthetic membrane , composite material , chemistry , biochemistry , engineering
Aging in super glassy polymers such as poly(trimethylsilylpropyne) (PTMSP), poly(4‐methyl‐2‐pentyne) (PMP), and polymers with intrinsic microporosity (PIM‐1) reduces gas permeabilities and limits their application as gas‐separation membranes. While super glassy polymers are initially very porous, and ultra‐permeable, they quickly pack into a denser phase becoming less porous and permeable. This age‐old problem has been solved by adding an ultraporous additive that maintains the low density, porous, initial stage of super glassy polymers through absorbing a portion of the polymer chains within its pores thereby holding the chains in their open position. This result is the first time that aging in super glassy polymers is inhibited whilst maintaining enhanced CO 2 permeability for one year and improving CO 2 /N 2 selectivity. This approach could allow super glassy polymers to be revisited for commercial application in gas separations.