Influence of polyimide precursor synthesis route and ortho-position functional group on thermally rearranged (TR) polymer properties: Pure gas permeability and selectivity

Pure gas permeability coefficients of CH4, N2, O2, CO2, and H2 are reported for thermally rearranged (TR) polymers derived from polyimides based on 3,3′-dihydroxy-4,4′-diamino-biphenyl and 2,2′-bis-(3,4-dicarboxyphenyl) hexafluoropropane dianhydride (HAB-6FDA). These HAB-6FDA polymers were prepared with hydroxyl, acetate, propanoate, and pivalate groups in the ortho-position to the imide ring. Polymers with acetate ortho-position groups were synthesized via either thermal or chemical imidization. Pure gas permeability was approximately five times higher after rearrangement at 450 °C in TR polymers from polyimides with acetate, propanoate, and pivalate ortho-position groups relative to TR polymers prepared from polyimides with hydroxyl ortho-position groups. In samples with non-hydroxyl ortho-position groups, those with larger ortho-position groups had higher gas permeability for TR conversions less than roughly 60%, but permeability increased to similar values as conversion exceeded 60%. In all samples, the CO2/CH4 selectivity also approached a similar value as TR conversion increased. Despite their higher permeability, fractional free volume was not significantly higher in TR polymers from polyimides bearing non-hydroxyl ortho-position groups than in samples with hydroxyl ortho-position groups. Therefore, average free volume alone cannot explain this behavior, suggesting that free volume distribution is likely affected by these groups.