Sorption and diffusion of water vapor in polyimide films

Sorption and diffusion of water vapor are investigated gravimetrically for polyimide films. The activity dependence of the solubility and diffusion coefficients, S and D, respectively, is classified under four types: (1) constant S and D type, (2) dual-mode sorption and transport type, (3) dual-mode type followed by a deviation due to a plasticization effect at high vapor activity, and (4) constant S and D type followed by a deviation due to water cluster formation at high activity. For the dual-mode type, the Henry's law component is much larger than the Langmuir component except at low activity, and therefore deviation in behavior from the first type is small. S is larger for polyimides with higher content of polar groups such as carbonyl, carboxyl, and sulfonyl. D is larger for polyimides with a higher fraction of free space, with some exceptions. The polyimide from 3,3′,4,4′-biphenyltetracarboxylic dianhydride and dimethyl-3,7-diaminodibenzothiophene-5, 5-dioxide belongs to the third type and displays both large S and large D. The polyimide from 2,2-bis(3,4-dicarboxyphenyl) hexafluoropropane dianhydride and 4,4′-oxydianiline belongs to the fourth type, and has the largest D but rather small S because of the hydrophobic C(CF₃)₂ groups. © 1992 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Sorption and diffusion of gases in a polyimide

Sorption and diffusion of gases (CO₂, N₂, and He) in a polyimide (PI2080) film were measured by using an apparatus which gives the sorption rate curves from the initial state to the equilibrium state. Nonlinear isotherms observed for CO₂ sorption were interpreted successfully in terms of the dual-mode model for sorption in glassy polymers. Linear isotherms observed for N₂ and He seemed to obey Henry's law. Two diffusion coefficients (D_I and D_E) were obtained using the short-time method and the long-time method for a Fickian diffusion model, together with the equilibrium solubility (C_e) from each experiment. The initial sorption rate curves agreed with the calculated curves using D_I, however near sorption equilibrium the curves are in accord with the calculated curves using D_E. These observations suggest that some relaxation process is superimposed on the diffusion process. The non-Fickian transport data were correlated successfully with a model that combines time-dependent diffusion and the Fickian model.     

Sorption and pervaporation properties of sulfonyl‐containing polyimide membrane to aromatic/non‐aromatic hydrocarbon mixtures

Sorption of single‐component vapors of benzene (Bz), n‐hexane (Hx), and cyclohexane (Cx), and of binary liquid mixtures of Bz/Hx and Bz/Cx in a polyimide from 3,3′,4,4′‐diphenylsulfone‐tetracarboxylic dianhydride (DSDA) and 2,8(6)‐dimethyl‐3,7‐diaminobenzothiophene‐5,5‐dioxide (DDBT) were investigated in detail at 333 K. Sorption and desorption of vapors followed the non‐Fickian kinetics and the sorption isotherms were concave to the vapor activity. For the binary liquids, the sorption isotherms of the Bz component were concave to the Bz composition in feed, whereas those of Hx and Cx were convex because of competitive sorption. As a result, the solubility selectivity was much larger than the sorption ratio of pure liquids. The concentration‐averaged diffusion coefficients of Bz (D̄_Bz) and Hx (D̄_Hx) were evaluated using the sorption and pervaporation data of the polyimide membrane toward the binary mixtures. A kind of coupling effect of the coexisting component on D̄ was observed. That is, D̄ of penetrant with smaller molecular size (Hx and Bz for Bz/Hx and Bz/Cx systems, respectively) was reduced by the presence of penetrant with larger molecular size (Bz and Cx, respectively) and vice versa. D̄_Bz was similar to D̄_Hx, but much larger than D̄_Cx. The difference in PV behavior between Bz/Hx and Bz/Cx systems for glassy polymer membranes was understood based on the aforementioned features of sorption and diffusion. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys 38: 2954–2964, 2000     

Mechanical properties of clay–polyimide (BTDA–ODA) nanocomposites via ODA‐modified organoclay

Clay–polyimide [3,3′, 4,4′‐benzophenone tetracarboxylic dianhydride–4,4′‐oxydianiline (BTDA–ODA)] nanocomposites were synthesized from ODA‐modified montmorillonite (organoclay) and poly(amic acid). The layered silicates of organoclay were intercalated by polyimide (BTDA–ODA), as confirmed by X‐ray diffraction and by transmission electron microscopy, and the tensile mechanical properties of the nanocomposites were measured. It was found that the modulus and the maximum stress of these organoclay/BTDA–ODA nanocomposites were much higher than those of pure BTDA–ODA: a twofold increase in the modulus and a one‐half‐fold increase in the maximum stress in the case of 7/93 organoclay–BTDA‐ODA. In addition, the elongation‐for‐break of organoclay/BTDA–ODA nanocomposites is even slightly higher than that of pure BTDA–ODA, which is a sharp contrast to that of conventional inorganics‐filled polymer composites. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys 38: 2873–2878, 2000     

The physical aging phenomenon of 6FDA‐durene polyimide hollow fiber membranes

The aging phenomenon of asymmetric 6FDA‐durene polyimide hollow fibers spun with different shear rates for gas separation has been investigated. The permeances and selectivities of different gases, such as H₂, O₂, N₂, CH_4, and CO₂, were experimentally determined as a function of time for around five months at room temperature. It was found that the gas permeation fluxes of the uncoated and silicone rubber‐coated hollow fibers decreased significantly during the first 30 days following fabrication and then slightly deteriorated thereafter. In the early stage of aging, because of different molecular orientations and skin morphologies induced by shear rates, the percentage of permeance drop for uncoated fibers increased with increasing shear rates, then decreased with increasing shear rates. The permeance of 6FDA‐durene hollow fibers coated with silicone rubber dropped more significantly than the uncoated fibers, implying that silicone rubber coating did affect the aging behavior. This might be due to the fact that silicone rubber layer hindered the molecular relaxation and tightened interface molecules between the dense selective layer and silicone rubber, thus the selectivity increased with aging. Thermal analysis data suggest two processes occurring simultaneously during the aging: one is the relaxation of shear oriented chains, and the other is the densification of chain packing through the reduction of interstitial space among chains. The former has been confirmed by an increase in CTE, while the latter was confirmed by an increase in the peak of β‐relaxation temperature. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys 38: 765–775, 2000     

Sorption and diffusion of methanol and water in PVDF‐g‐PSSA and Nafion® 117 polymer electrolyte membranes

Sorption and diffusion properties of poly(vinylidene fluoride)‐graft‐poly(styrene sulfonic acid) (PVDF‐g‐PSSA) and Nafion® 117 polymer electrolyte membranes were studied in water/methanol mixtures. The two types of membranes were found to have different sorption properties. The Nafion 117 membrane was found to have a maximum in‐solvent uptake around 0.4 to 0.6 mole fraction of methanol, while the PVDF‐g‐PSSA membranes took up less solvent with increasing methanol concentration. The proton NMR spectra were recorded for membranes immersed in deuterated water/methanol mixtures. The spectra showed that the hydroxyl protons inside the membrane exhibit resonance lines different from the resonance lines of hydroxyl protons in the external solvent. The spectral features of the lines of these internal hydroxyl groups in the membranes were different in the Nafion membrane compared with the PVDF‐g‐PSSA membranes. Diffusion measurements with the pulsed field gradient NMR (PFG‐NMR) method showed that the diffusion coefficient of the internal hydroxyl groups in the solvent immersed Nafion membrane mirrors the changes in the diffusion coefficients of hydroxyl and methyl protons in the external solvent. For the PVDF‐g‐PSSA membranes, a decrease in the diffusion coefficient of the internal hydroxyl protons was seen with increasing methanol concentration. These results indicate that the morphology and chemical structure of the membranes have an effect on their solvent sorption and diffusion characteristics. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys 38: 3277–3284, 2000     

Sorption and diffusion of water vapour on edible films

Two types of films consisting of sodium salt of carboxymethyl cellulose (NaCMC) and hydroxypropyl cellulose (HPC) as film forming materials and glycerin as plasticizer were prepared, characterized and their water vapour sorption properties were determined. The water sorption isotherms of the films were measured using a magnetic suspension balance. Results show that diffusion of water vapour in NaCMC based film is faster than that in HPC based films, due to the heterogeneous structure and larger pore dimensions of the NaCMC films.     

Sorption and diffusion of organic vapors in amorphous Teflon AF2400

Vapor sorption in amorphous Teflon AF2400 of various organic solutes was studied in a wide range of activity at 25 °C by means of the gravimetric technique. The sorption isotherms of hexane, toluene, and chloroform were shown to be concave to the pressure axis and are consistent with the dual mode sorption model (DMS). The parameters of the DMS model k_D and b reveal a linear correlation with squared critical temperature of solutes T. The third model parameter, the Langmuir sorption capacity C′_H decreases when the size of solutes (critical volume) increases. Sorption isotherms of methanol and ethanol were shown to be convex to the pressure axis and are consistent with cluster formation in this strongly hydrophobic polymer. Concentration‐dependent diffusion coefficients D were determined using a linear implicit difference scheme in analysis of sorption kinetics. It was shown that D values increase exponentially with concentration for all the solutes, except alcohols for which exponential reduction of D(C) was observed. The partitioning of the thermodynamic and mobility contributions in D indicated that the reduction of D values of alcohols is consistent with clustering phenomena in AF2400. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 44: 832–844, 2006     

Sorption of water and organic solutes in polyimide films and its effects on dielectric properties

The effect of structure on the sorption kinetics of water and of various organic solutes into polyimide (PMDA-ODA) thin films was studied. The major techniques employed include measurements of sorption kinetics, density, and dielectric relaxation. More solute uptake, lower densities and higher diffusivities were observed for films cured at lower temperatures. By measuring both changes of mass and of density, the volume expansion of the polymer due to each solute was obtained; this was found to be proportional to the molar volume of the solute. The two dielectric relaxation peaks (denoted by γ₁ and γ₂) due to water (and other solutes) were studied in detail to obtain the relevant activation energies and the separate dipole moments. While water and methylene chloride appear in both γ₁ and γ₂ configurations, methyl and ethyl alcohol appear mainly as γ₂, while acetic acid is primarily γ₁. It was concluded that the γ₁ configurations are relatively homogeneously distributed throughout the polymer, involving loose bonding to the polymer structure, while the γ₂ configurations involve small clusters, probably chains of molecules. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Sorption and transport of water in nylon-6 films

Sorption and transport properties of water through films of Nylon-6 were obtained at 5, 23, and 40°C. Commercially available films were used and a Cahn electrobalance was employed for measuring the water uptake by the polymer samples. Values of the water sorption isotherms are accurately described by the Langmuir/Flory-Huggins dual-mode sorption model. At water activity values below 0.15, the volume fraction of water described by the Langmuir portion of the model was greater than the Flory-Huggins population. Solubility and diffusion coefficients of water, as well as the diffusion activation energy and enthalpy of dissolution of water for Nylon-6, were determined from the sorption experiments. Values obtained support the hypothesis of a bimodal water sorption mode, and the formation of water clusters. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Sorption and diffusion of aliphatic hydrocarbons into crosslinked natural rubber

The sorption and transport of four aliphatic hydrocarbons into natural rubber crosslinked by different vulcanization systems [conventional (CV), efficient (EV), peroxide (DCP) and a mixed system consisting of sulfur and peroxide (mixed)] were investigated in the temperature interval of 28–60°C. Of the four systems, natural rubber vulcanized by DCP exhibited lowest penetrant uptake. It was observed that the kinetics of liquid sorption in every case deviates from the regular Fickian trend, characteristic of sorption of liquids by rubbers. The diffusion coefficient, activation energy of sorption, enthalpy, entropy, and the rubber-solvent interaction parameter were evaluated for the four systems from the swelling data. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys 35: 725–734, 1997     

Butane isomer transport properties of 6FDA–DAM and MFI–6FDA–DAM mixed matrix membranes

For the first time, we report the C4s’ transport properties: solubility, diffusivity, permeability in 6FDA–DAM polymer, one of most permeable glassy polymers with significant nC4 vs. iC4 selectivity. An nC4 permeability of 3.7 Barrer, and nC4/iC4 ideal selectivity of 21 was found in pure 6FDA–DAM polymer membrane. Mixed matrix films were successfully fabricated using a 6FDA–DAM as the matrix, with up to 35 wt% loading of MFI, modified by a two-step Grignard treatment (GT) that produced Mg(OH)₂ whiskers on the surface of the MFI particles. The permeability of nC4 more than doubled; however, the selectivity for the C4s remained the same. Permeation of mixed matrix films with impermeable GT-uncalcined-MFI agree with Maxwell modeling of films with an impermeable solid loading, thereby supporting the existence of a defect-free interface between MFI particles and the polymer matrix. This indicates that the MFI is too permeable to optimally match the properties of the 6FDA–DAM, which is one of the most permeable selective matrix polymers available. It appears unlikely that any currently known, adequately selective glassy polymer can match the high permeability of nC4 in MFI to enable development of promising composite membrane for the C4s separation based on MFI. Therefore a smaller pore size zeolite is required for a better match.     

Sorption and diffusion of carbon dioxide in single-phase polystyrene/poly(vinylmethylether) blends

The sorption and transport properties of CO₂ in miscible PS/PVME blends at 20°C are reported as a function of pressure from 1 to 15 atm. The complex shape of isotherms for glassy blends and the concentration-dependent diffusion coefficient for rubbery blends reveal a plasticization by sorbed CO₂. The significant depression in T_g has to be taken into account in the analysis of the sorption data. Diffusion coefficient for CO₂ passes through a minimum when plotted against the blend composition. Such a behavior can be quantitatively related to the negative volume mixing of the PS/PVME system in the framework of the theories based on unoccupied volume. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Preparation of methyltert-Butyl ether (MTBE) over heteropoly acids immobilized on activated carbon (HPA/C) in the vapor phase

Heteropolyacids (HPAs) supported on the activated carbon (SiW₁₂/C and PW₁₂/C) have been used to study the formation of methyltert-butyl ether (MTBE). Compared to the conventional commercial catalyts, Amberlyst-15 resin and HZSM-5, HPAs supported catalysts have been proved to have much higher catalytic activity under lower temperature, esperically selectivity to MTBE is up to 100%. It may be due to the high acid strength of HPAs as well as the specialty of heteropolyanion.     

Sorption and diffusion of carbon dioxide in wood‐fiber/polystyrene composites

In this study, sorption and diffusion of carbon dioxide (CO₂) in wood‐fiber/polystyrene composites were investigated. The effects of gas pressure and fiber content on the solubility and diffusion coefficients were evaluated. A statistical analysis indicated that pressure is more important than fiber content in determining the solubility and diffusivity of CO₂. An increase in saturation pressure causes an increase in the solubility and diffusion coefficients, whereas inclusion of the fibers decreases both of these properties. Models were developed to predict the uptake and diffusion coefficients of CO₂ in the composite samples as functions of pressure and fiber content. A theoretical model based on Henry's law and the Langmuir equation compared favorably to the experimental data for CO₂ solubility. This dual mode model also described both the transient sorption and desorption data, but only if the concentration‐dependent value of diffusivity was treated as a history‐dependent parameter. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 40: 723–735, 2002     

Characterization of 6FDA‐based hyperbranched and linear polyimide–silica hybrid membranes by gas permeation and 129Xe NMR measurements

Physical and gas transport properties of novel hyperbranched polyimide–silica hybrid membranes were investigated and compared with those of linear‐type polyimide–silica hybrid membranes with similar chemical structures. Hyperbranched polyamic acid, as a precursor, was prepared by polycondensation of a triamine, 1,3,5‐tris(4‐aminophenoxy)benzene (TAPOB), and a dianhydride, 4,4′‐(hexafluoroisopropylidene)diphthalic anhydride (6FDA). 6FDA‐TAPOB hyperbranched polyimide–silica hybrids were prepared using the polyamic acid, water, and tetramethoxysilane (TMOS) by sol–gel reaction. 5% weight‐loss temperature of the 6FDA‐TAPOB hyperbranched polyimide–silica hybrids determined by TG‐DTA measurement considerably increased with increasing silica content, indicating effective crosslinking at polymer–silica interface. CO₂, O₂, N₂, and CH₄ permeability coefficients of the 6FDA‐based polyimide–silica hybrids increased with increasing silica content. In addition, CO₂/CH₄ selectivity of the 6FDA‐TAPOB–silica hybrids remarkably increased with increasing silica content. From ¹²⁹Xe NMR analysis, characteristic distribution and interconnectivity of cavities created around polymer–silica interface were suggested in the 6FDA‐TAPOB–silica hybrids. It was indicated that size‐selective separation ability is effectively brought by the incorporation of silica for the 6FDA‐TAPOB hyperbranched polyimide–silica hybrid membranes. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 44: 291–298, 2006     

Sorption and pervaporation properties of crosslinked membranes of poly(ethylene oxide imide) segmented copolymer to aromatic/nonaromatic hydrocarbon mixtures

Poly(ethylene oxide imide) segmented copolymer (PEO‐PI) membranes were crosslinked by the chemical reaction between ethylene glycol diglycidyl ether and benzylalcohol groups of diamine moieties in polyimide segments at high temperatures. Sorption and diffusion of penetrants took place in poly(ethylene oxide) segment microdomains. Sorption and desorption behavior of pure vapors such as benzene (Bz), cyclohexane (Cx) and n‐hexane (Hx) was classified as the Fickian diffusion. Sorption isotherms of binary liquid mixtures could be represented by the Flory–Rehner model, but the model overpredicted the sorption amounts of Cx and Hx, leading to small predictions of sorption selectivity α_S for Bz/Cx and Bz/Hx systems. UNIFAC‐FV model fairly well predicted the sorption amounts of aromatic hydrocarbons, but significantly overestimated those of nonaromatic ones, leading to too small predictions of α_S. Pervaporation (PV) behavior of PEO‐PI membranes was governed by sorption behavior followed by membrane swelling. Diffusion coefficient weakly depended on the minimum cross section of a penetrant. The diffusivity selectivity α_D hardly depended on the feed composition and was about 1.4 and 0.75 for Bz/Cx and Bz/Hx, respectively. PV selectivity α_PV was larger for Bz/Hx than for Bz/Cx because of larger α_S. PEO‐PI membranes displayed high specific permeation flux Ql and reasonably high α_PV for aromatic/nonaromatic hydrocarbons; for example, Ql = 60 Kg μm/(m² h) and α_PV = 8 for a feed mixture containing Bz, Tol, Hx, n‐Ot and i‐Ot of 20 wt % at 353 K. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys 38: 1800–1811, 2000     

Sorption and diffusion of low molecular weight gases and vapors in glassy polymers at high concentration of sorbate

A theoretical approach has been developed to describe the sorption and diffusion processes of low weight molecular gases and vapors in polymers at wide ranges of sorbate concentration. The equation of an S‐shaped gas sorption isotherm in glassy polymer matrix has been derived. The concentration dependence of the sorbate molecule diffusion coefficient has been established. For an S‐shaped sorption isotherm, this dependence is nonmonotonous. The conditions of cluster formation of sorbate molecules have been analyzed within the proposed approach, in which it is possible to determine a correlation between these conditions and parameters of sorption isotherm. The comparison of the experimental and theoretical data provides an assessment of the microscopic characteristics of investigated polymer–vapor systems, such as the distances between vapor molecules in a matrix corresponding to intermolecular repulsion and attraction. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys 37: 2314–2323, 1999     

Sorption and diffusion of normal alkanes through poly(ethylene‐co‐vinyl acetate) membranes

The transport behavior of uncrosslinked and crosslinked poly(ethylene‐co‐vinyl acetate) membranes has been investigated using normal alkanes as probe molecules, in the temperature range of 30–60 °C. Benzoyl peroxide was used for crosslinking the matrix. It has been observed that, a critical concentration of crosslinker is necessary for maximum solvent uptake, followed by a decrease at higher concentration. The effect of free volume on liquid transport was investigated by positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy. The mechanism of transport has been found to deviate from the regular Fickian behavior. The dependence of the transport coefficients on crosslink density, nature of penetrants, and temperature was studied. The polymer–solvent interaction parameter, enthalpy, and entropy of sorption have also been estimated from the transport data. The affine and phantom models for chemical crosslinks were used to predict the nature of crosslinks. Finally, the experimental sorption data were compared with theoretical predictions. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 45: 2470–2480, 2007