Chemical modification of poly(substituted-acetylene). I. Synthesis and gas permeability of poly(1-trimethylsilyl-1-propyne)/poly (dimethylsiloxane) graft copolymer

In order to improve the selectivity and the stability and the stability for gas permeation of poly (1-trimethylsilyl-1-propyne) (PTMSP) membrane, it was chemically modified by grafting polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) chains. The graft copolymers were synthesized by four different methods via metallation of PTMSP with n-butyllithium. PDMS content of the graft co-polymers was controlled in the range of 4–92 mol %. Very tough, thin membranes could be prepared from these graft copolymers using a solvent casting method. Thermal property and gas permeability of the copolymer membranes thus obtained were evaluated. These membranes were relatively thermally stable, and the softening points were over about 150°C. Oxygen permeability coefficients Po₂ and selectivity Po₂/PN₂ of PTMSP/PDMS graft copolymers depended on the PDMS content, the former was in the range of 1 X 10^?8 to 2 × 10^?7 cm³ (STP)· cm/(cm²· s · cm. Hg) and the latter was 2.0–3.1. Minimum values of PO₂ and PN₂ occured at PDMS content of about 55 mol %. The introduction of more than 60 mol % of PDMS resulted in oxygen permeability coefficient which was maintained for more than one moth (PO₂ = 2 ? 6 × 10 ^?8 cm ³ (STP)· cm/(cm²·s·cm Hg), PO₂/PN₂ = 2.3–2.7).