Polyimides containing siloxane moieties are used in some advanced applications. For example, these polymers can be employed as separation membranes in the form of self-standing, thin films. These products are formed by components of different polarities that have the tendency, at least partly, to separate in the final materials, with an impact on their final, bulk, and/or surface properties. The aim of this work is to study the dependence of the composition of the polyimide, poly(imide-siloxane) (PIS) and copolymeric PIS self-standing films differing in thickness on their properties. The important finding is that there is a rather large difference observed in the water contact angle on the film side oriented toward the air atmosphere during film preparation and that oriented toward a hydrophobic Teflon surface. Nevertheless, the gas transport properties of carbon dioxide and methane for these membranes are more influenced by the membrane composition than by the surface properties.

Purpose The study aims to focus on the preparation of a heterogeneous cation exchange membrane by a three-dimensional (3D) method – fused filament fabrication using a series of nozzles of various diameters (0.4–1.0 mm). Polypropylene random copolymer (PPR) as a polymeric binder was mixed with 50 Wt.% of the selected conventional cation exchange resin, and a filament was prepared using a single screw mini extruder. Then filament was processed by FFF into the membranes with a defined 3D structure. Design/methodology/approach Electrochemical properties, morphology, mechanical properties and water absorption properties were tested. Findings Dependence of the tested properties on the used nozzle diameter was found. Both areal and specific resistances increased with increasing nozzle diameter. The same trend was also found for permselectivity. The optimal membrane with permselectivity above 90%, areal resistance of 8 O.cm2 and specific resistance of 124 O.cm2 was created using a nozzle diameter of 0.4 mm. Originality/value Using new materials for 3D print of cation exchange membrane with production without waste. The possibility of producing 3D membranes with a precisely defined structure and using a cheap 3D printing method. New direction of membrane structure formation. 3D-printed heterogeneous cation exchange membranes were prepared, which can compete with commercial membranes produced by conventional technologies. 3D-printed heterogeneous cation exchange membranes were prepared, which can compete with commercial membranes produced by conventional technologies.

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