Hydrocarbon/hydrogen mixed gas permeation in poly(1-trimethylsilyl-1-propyne) (PTMSP), poly(1-phenyl-1-propyne) (PPP), and PTMSP/PPP blends

The gas permeation properties of poly(1-trimethylsilyl-1-propyne) (PTMSP), poly(1-phenyl-1-propyne) (PPP), and blends of PTMSP and PPP have been determined with hydrocarbon/hydrogen mixtures. For a glassy polymer, PTMSP has unusual gas permeation properties which result from its very high free volume. Transport in PPP is similar to that observed in conventional, low-free-volume glassy polymers. In experiments with n-butane/hydrogen gas mixtures, PTMSP and PTMSP/PPP blend membranes were more permeable to n-butane than to hydrogen. PPP, on the other hand, was more permeable to hydrogen than to n-butane. As the PTMSP composition in the blend increased from 0 to 100%, n-butane permeability increased by a factor of 2600, and n-butane/hydrogen selectivity increased from 0.4 to 24. Thus, both hydrocarbon permeability and hydrocarbon/hydrogen selectivity increase with the PTMSP content in the blend. The selectivities measured with gas mixtures were markedly higher than selectivities calculated from the corresponding ratio of pure gas permeabilities. The difference between mixed gas and pure gas selectivity becomes more pronounced as the PTMSP content in the blend increases. The mixed gas selectivities are higher than pure gas selectivities because the hydrogen permeability in the mixture is much lower than the pure hydrogen permeability. For example, the hydrogen permeability in PTMSP decreased by a factor of 20 as the relative propane pressure (p/p_sat) in propane/hydrogen mixtures increased from 0 to 0.8. This marked reduction in permanent gas permeability in the presence of a more condensable hydrocarbon component is reminiscent of blocking of permanent gas transport in microporous materials by preferential sorption of the condensable component in the pores. The permeability of PTMSP to a five-component hydrocarbon/hydrogen mixture, similar to that found in refinery waste gas, was determined and compared with published permeation results for a 6-Å microporous carbon membrane. PTMSP exhibited lower selectivities than those of the carbon membrane, but permeability coefficients in PTMSP were nearly three orders of magnitude higher. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Polymer characterization and gas permeability of poly(1-trimethylsilyl-1-propyne) [PTMSP], poly(1-phenyl-1-propyne) [PPP], and PTMSP/PPP blends

Pure gas and hydrocarbon vapor transport properties of blends of two glassy, polyacetylene-based polymers, poly(1-trimethylsilyl-1-propyne) [PTMSP] and poly(1-phenyl-1-propyne) [PPP], have been determined. Solid-state CP/MAS NMR proton rotating frame relaxation times were determined in the pure polymers and the blends. NMR studies show that PTMSP and PPP form strongly phase-separated blends. The permeabilities of the pure polymers and each blend were determined with hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen, carbon dioxide, and n-butane. PTMSP exhibits unusual gas and vapor transport properties which result from its extremely high free volume. PTMSP is more permeable to large organic vapors, such as n-butane, than to small, permanent gases, such as hydrogen. PPP exhibits gas permeation characteristics of conventional low free volume glassy polymers; PPP is more permeable to hydrogen than to n-butane. In PTMSP/PPP blends, both n-butane permeability and n-butane/hydrogen selectivity increase as the PTMSP content of the blends increases. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Long-term permeation properties of poly(1-trimethylsilyl-1-propyne) membranes in hydrocarbon—Vapor environment

Poly(1-trimethylsilyl-1-propyne) (PTMSP), a high free-volume glassy di-substituted polyacetylene, has the highest gas permeabilities of all known polymers. The high gas permeabilities in PTMSP result from its very high excess free volume and connectivity of free volume elements. Permeability coefficients of permanent gases in PTMSP decrease dramatically over time due to loss of excess free volume. The effects of aging on gas permeability and selectivity of PTMSP membranes continuously exposed to a 2 mol % n-butane/98 mol % hydrogen mixture over a period of 47 days are reported. The permeation properties of PTMSP membranes are quite stable when the polymer is continuously exposed to a gas mixture containing a highly sorbing organic vapor such af n-butane. The n-butane/hydrogen selectivity was essentially constant for the 47-day test period at a value of 29, or 88% of the initial value of the as-cast film of 33. Condensable gases such as n-butane may serve as a “filler” in the nonequilibrium free volume of the polymer, thereby preserving the high level of excess free volume. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys 35 : 1483–1490, 1997     

Solubility,diffusivity, and mobility of n-pentane and ethanol in poly(1-trimethylsilyl-1-propyne)

The diffusion coefficient of ethanol and of n-pentane in PTMSP, at 27°C, was measured as a function of concentration up to a penetrant content of about 12% by weight, for polymer samples obtained through different processes; differential sorptions and desorptions with vapor phases were considered. In the case of ethanol a nonmonotonous behavior was observed for the diffusivity, while in the case of n-pentane the same property was found to monotonously decrease with increasing the penetrant content. The sorption isotherms were also reported, indicating that n-pentane exhibits a typical dual mode behavior, while ethanol follows an unusual s-shape curve. The chemical potential of the dissolved penetrants, calculated directly from the isotherms, shows the very different importance of the energetic interactions of the two penetrants with the polymer units. In spite of the remarkably different concentration dependencies observed for both solubility and diffusivity of the two penetrants, the mobility factors are in both cases monotonously decreasing with the penetrant concentration, and follow very similar trends. The significant differences observed for the concentration dependence of the diffusion coefficients are, thus, associated to the thermodynamic contributions, which are very different for n-pentane and ethanol. Different polymeric films, obtained through different solvent evaporation processes, show quite different solubility, diffusivity and mobility for both ethanol and n-pentane. On the other hand, the ratio between the mobility of the two penetrants as well as the slope of mobility as function of the concentration remains the same for all the different samples inspected. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys 35 : 2245–2258, 1997     

Transport of organic vapors through poly(1-trimethylsilyl-1-propyne)

Poly(1-trimethylsilyl-1-propyne) [PTMSP], a high-free-volume glassy polymer, has the highest gas permeability of any known synthetic polymer. In contrast to conventional, low-free-volume, glassy polymers, PTMSP is more permeable to large, condensable organic vapors than to permanent gases. The organic-vapor/permanent-gas selectivity of PTMSP based on pure gas measurements is low. In organic-vapor/permanent-gas mixtures, however, the selectivity of PTMSP is much higher because the permeability of the permanent gas is reduced dramatically by the presence of the organic vapor. For example, in n-butane/methane mixtures, as little as 2 mol% n-butane (relative n-butane pressure 0.16) lowers the methane permeability 10-fold from the pure methane permeability. The result is that PTMSP shows a mixed-gas n-butane/methane selectivity of 30. This selectivity is the highest ever observed for this mixture and is completely unexpected for a glassy polymer. In addition, the gas mixture n-butane permeability of PTMSP is considerably higher than that of any known polymer, including polydimethylsiloxane, the most vapor-permeable rubber known. PTMSP also shows high mixed-gas selectivities and vapor permeabilities for the separation of chlorofluorocarbons from nitrogen. The unusual vapor permeation properties of PTMSP result from its very high free volume - more than 20% of the total volume of the material. The free volume elements appear to be connected, forming the equivalent of a finely microporous material. The large amount of condensable organic vapor sorbed into this finely porous structure causes partial blocking of the small free-volume elements, reducing the permeabilities of the noncondensable permanent gases from their pure gas values.     

Dilation of poly[1-(trimethylsilyl)-1-propyne] during sorption of n-nonane

The linear expansion and contraction in the principal planar directions of poly[1-(trimethylsilyl)-1-propyne] film were measured concurrently with the sorption of n-nonane at 35°C. After the first sorption cycle, in which the polymer exhibited markedly nonisotropic volumetric dilation, the polymer expanded and contracted reproducibly during subsequent multiple sorption and desorption cycles. These reversible dilation isotherms were reproducible from sample to sample. The fractional change in length was identical in arbitrarily selected, orthogonal directions in the plane of the film, suggesting that the expansion and dilation of the sample are isotropic. When plotted versus the activity of n-nonane, the linear expansions in the plane of the film are slightly concave to the activity axis, reaching levels over 10% at the highest activities. The experimental partial specific volume of the polymer is near its pure component value but that of the penetrant is much less than its pure component value. Moreover, the magnitude of dilation observed is described rather closely by the dilation which would result solely from the Henry's law portion of sorption, assuming zero volume-change of mixing. These results are consistent with the explicit notions of “hole-filling” associated with the Langmuir mode in the dual-mode model. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Chromatographic properties and polarity evaluation of poly(1-trimethylsilyl-1-propyne) and poly(1-phenyl-1-propyne)

The chromatographic properties of poly(1-trimethylsilyl-1-propyne) (PTMSP) and poly(1-phenyl-1-propyne) (PPP) were studied by gas chromatography using packed columns. The selectivity and efficiency of columns packed with PTMSP and PPP were compared to the data obtained for columns with other known adsorbents and stationary phases. The McReynolds and Rohrschneider constants, on the basis of which the polarity of the new phases was evaluated, were calculated. The results of the investigation of chromatographic properties allow PTMSP to be brought in line with the polymeric adsorbents Porapak Q, Porapak QS, and Chromosorb 106, while PPP, with the methyphenylsilicon phases SE-52 and OV-3.     

Investigations on the peculiar permeation properties of volatile organic compounds and permanent gases through PTMSP

In contrast to common glassy polymers, poly(1-trimethylsilyl-1-propyne) (PTMSP), a high free volume glassy polymer, shows a preferable permeation of large condensable organic vapors in comparison to permanent gases. In order to investigate this phenomenon, a systematic permeability study over a large activity range has been performed on PTMSP with three types of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) as diffusing probes: toluene, dimethylketone and dichloromethane. PTMSP was synthesized with different catalytic systems (Nb or Ta based) able to induce controlled sub-molecular cis–trans structures. Whereas dimethylketone and dichloromethane permeability can be correctly described by a classical dual-mode equation, a peculiar bell shaped pattern was obtained for toluene, with a minimum permeability located at an activity value around a=0.3–0.4. In that case, only a dual-mode expression taking into account a concentration dependent diffusion coefficient can account for the results.

On the other hand some apparent conflicting data recorded from PTMSP brand new films were related to the microstructure of the polymer main chain thanks to ¹³C NMR spectroscopy analysis showing importance of cis- and trans-forms of the main chain of PTMSP. cis-Structure is more flexible and can be responsible for the creation of a higher density physical network (HDN) in polymeric matrix; conversely, trans-structure is more rigid and can provide lower density physical network (LDN). The higher permeability recorded for several probes through PTMSP synthesized with TaCl₅/Al(i-Bu)₃ catalytic system compared to those of NbCl₅ based polymer can be explained by the geometric difference of the macromolecule networks.     

Metallation of poly(1-trimethylsilyl-1-prop-1-yne) and poly(vinyltrimethylsilane) with superbases

The pathway and degree of metallation of polymers were studied depending on the the conditions (temperature, concentration, nature, and component ratio) of metallation of poly(1-trimethylsilylprop-1-yne) (PTMSP) and poly(vinyltrimethylsilane) (PVTMS) by superbases, viz., BuⁿLi and Bu^sLi, in combination with potassium tert-pentyl oxide (Pe^tOK). For the BuⁿLi—Pe^tOK system (1 : 3), the yield of modified PTMSP reached 90%. In the case of PTMSP, only the Me groups at the double bonds and at the Si atoms undergo metallation, whereas only the Me groups at the Si atoms are metallated in PVTMS. The kinetics of metallation with the BuⁿLi—Pe^tOK system was studied.     

Water sorption and transport in blends of poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) and polysulfone

Water sorption and transport properties for a series of miscible blends of hydrophobic bisphenol A polysulfone and hydrophilic poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) are reported. Study was restricted to blends that remained homogeneous after exposure to liquid water. The solubility of water in the blend films increased with increasing hydrophilic polymer content. Equilibrium sorption isotherms show dual-mode behavior at low activities and swelling behavior at high activities. The sorption kinetics are generally Fickian for blends containing 20% poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) or less, but exhibit two-stage behavior in blends containing 40% poly(vinyl pyrrolidone). Diffusion coefficients extrapolated to zero concentration decrease with increasing poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) content, owing to a decrease in the fractional free volume. However, the diffusion coefficient becomes a greater function of activity as the composition of hydrophilic polymer in the blend is increased, due to plasticization of the material by large levels of sorbed water. Permeability coefficients generally decrease with increasing poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) content for blends containing 20% poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) or less because the decrease in the diffusion coefficient is greater than the increase in the solubility coefficient. Blends containing 40% poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) have permeability coefficients greater than those of polysulfone due to high water solubility. The permeability coefficients depend on water concentration in approximately the same way for all blends. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys, 35: 655–674, 1997     

The effect of benzonitrile on the hydrogenation of phenylacetylene and 1-phenyl-1-propyne over a palladium/carbon catalyst

Benzonitrile reduces the rate of alkyne hydrogenation. However, it enhances the rate of styrene hydrogenation while reducing the rate of -methylstyrene hydrogenation.     

Facilitated transport of molecular oxygen in cobaltporphyrin/poly(1-trimethylsilyl-1-propyne) membrane

The combination membrane of poly(1-trimethylsilyl-1-propyne) with enormously high permeability and poly(vinylimidazole)-bound porphinatocobalt with selective oxygenbinding ability was prepared. Oxygen transport through the membrane was facilitated in terms of oxygen transport via the latter domain as a fixed oxygen-carrier, and this oxygen permeability maintained for a month.     

Chromatographic and adsorption properties of the mixed stationary phase poly(1-trimethylsilyl-1-propyne)/poly(1-phenyl-1-propyne)

Adsorption and chromatographic properties of the mixed stationary phase poly-(1-trimethylsilyl-1-propyne)/poly(1-phenyl-1-propyne) (PTMSP/PPP) composed as 97: 3 by weight have been investigated by methods of low-temperature nitrogen adsorption and gas chromatography on packed columns. The resultant phase has uniform mesoporous structure. The chromatographic properties of the mixed phase are significantly different from the properties of the original porous polymers PTMSP and PPP. The adsorbent obtained by modifying Chromosorb P NAW with a mixture of polymers provides the selective separation of chlorosubstituted, saturated, and aromatic hydrocarbons.     

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.     

Kinetics of weight loss and chain scission in the thermooxidative degradation of poly[1-(trimethylsilyl)-1-propyne] films

The kinetic model of thermooxidative degradation in air, proposed to be valid for poly(2-hexyne) in predicting the lifetime of substituted polyacetylenes, was applied to poly[1-(trimethylsilyl)-1-propyne] films, with the differences in the oxidative behavior of both polyacetylenes noted. The effect of the molecular weight of the sample on the degradation process was analyzed. Kinetics of weight loss and chain scission were modeled, and the kinetic parameters were calculated. Also, the evolution of weight loss was related to the chain scission. The proposed model was validated with data reported in the literature. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 37: 4309–4317, 1999     

Synthesis and properties of brominated poly(1-trimethylsilyl-1-propyne)

Russian Chemical Bulletin - A procedure of selective bromination of poly(1-trimethylsilyl-1-propyne) using N-bromosuccinimide as the brominating agent was developed. This method allows to obtain...     

Water sorption properties of poly(ethyl acrylate-co-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) macroporous hydrogels

Synthetic porous hydrogels are becoming more and more important in the field of biomaterials. Different studies demonstrate that the porous structure promotes the colonisation of living cells and improves the biocompatibility of the implants. The macroporous structure allows not only the control of cellular ingrowth morphology but also the mechanical integration and the regulation of nutrient and hydraulic flow in the hydrogel. In this work poly(ethyl acrylate-co-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (PEA/PHEMA) copolymers were polymerized using 2% of ethylene glycol dimethacrylate as cross-linking agent and azoiso-botyronitrile as initiator. Five samples were prepared with the EA/HEMA weight ratios of 75/25, 50/50, 25/75 and pure PEA and PHEMA polymers, obtaining different degrees of hydrophilicity. The macroporous structure was obtained by adding poly(acrylonitrile) fibres to the monomers. After polymerization the fibres were eliminated by dissolution in dimethyl formamide. The holes are cylinders of approximately 40μm diameter and are all, more or less, in the same direction, although they are not uniformly distributed. Water sorption isotherms and diffusion properties of the macroporous samples are compared with the samples without holes.     

GAS PERMEABILITY OF COPOLY(1-TRIMETHYL-SILYL-1-PROPYNE-PENTAMETHYL-DISILYL-1-PROPYNE) MEMBRANE

The permeability of copoly (1-trimethylsilyl-1-propyne-pentamethyldisilyl-1-propyne) membrane for twelve gases (0_2, N_2, CO_2, H_2, D_2, He, At, CH_4, C_2H_4, C_2H_6, C_3H_6 and C_3H_8) was examined. The basic laws of solution and diffusion of the gases in the membrane were expounded preliminarily. It was found that a linear relationship between logarithm of diffusion coefficient (D) and critical molar volume (V_c) of the gases. The permeation characteristics of the gases in the copoly (1-trimethylsilyl-1-propyne-pentamethyldisilyl-1-propyne) membrane was also discussed.     

Miscibility and ferroelectric behavior in blends of poly(vinylidene fluoride/trifluoroethylene) and poly(vinyl acetate)

The blend system containing a poly(vinylidene fluoride/trifluoroethylene) [P(VDF/TrFE)] copolymer (68/32 mol %) and poly(vinyl acetate) (PVAc) was miscible from the results of differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) studies that exhibit the presence of a single, composition‐dependent glass transition temperature (T_g) and a strong melting point depression for the semicrystalline P(VDF/TrFE) component. However, differences between the DSC and dielectric measurements, which showed a separate P(VDF/TrFE) T_g peak, suggests that the P(VDF/TrFE)/PVAc blends are actually partially miscible. Because of the lower dielectric constant of PVAc and the reduced sample crystallinity caused by the addition of PVAc, both the dielectric constant and the remanent polarization of the copolymer blends decrease with increasing PVAc content. The presence of a small amount of PVAc stabilized the anomalous ferroelectric behavior of ice–water‐quenched P(VDF/TrFE), and the blend portrayed normal polarization reversal behavior after adding only 1 wt % PVAc. The piezoelectric response suggests small changes with an increasing number of poling cycles. It is believed that PVAc affects the D‐E hysteresis behavior at the interface between crystalline and amorphous phases, although much work remains to be done to confirm this hypothesis. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 41: 927–935, 2003     

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