Synthesis of Polyimides Containing Fluorine and Their Pervaporation Performances to Aromatic/Aliphatic Hydrocarbon Mixtures

Two kinds of polyimides containing fluorine were synthesized based on dianhydride of 2,2‐bis(3,4‐dicarboxyphenyl)hexafluoropropane dianhydride (6FDA) and diamines including 2,2‐bis[4‐(4‐aminophenoxy)phenyl] hexafluoropropane (BDAF) and 2,2‐bis[4‐(4‐aminophenoxy)phenyl]propane (BAPP) using solution condensation and following chemical imidization. The structures of 6FDA‐BDAF and 6FDA‐BAPP were characterized by FT‐IR, NMR, and XRD. Their glass transition temperatures characterized by DSC were in the range of 235–251°C, and the initial decomposition temperatures determined by TGA were over 540°C. The membranes of polyimide thus obtained were employed in pervaporation separation of aromatic/aliphatic mixtures. 6FDA‐BDAF membranes obtained better separation performances than 6FDA‐BAPP and had a flux of 0.66 kg · µm/m² · h and separation factor of 6.49 for toluene/n‐heptane (20/80 wt.%) at 80°C. The effects of the fluorine group on polyimides properties and separation performances were investigated.