Effect of Plasma Treatment on the Gas Permeability of Poly(4‐methyl‐2‐pentyne) Membranes

Abstract

The surface of a poly(4‐methyl‐2‐pentyne) membrane was modified by plasma treatment using CCl4; the permeabilities of O2, N2, H2, CH4 and CO2 were measured before and after the plasma treatment, and the selectivities of O2/N2, H2/N2, CO2/N2, CO2/CH4 and H2/CH4 were calculated. The selectivities were found to be remarkably improved after plasma treatment while gas permeabilities decreased. The effect of the plasma conditions such as the treatment time and discharge power on the permeabilities of the membranes was investigated in detail. The surface of modified membranes was analyzed by XPS, and the contact angles of water on the membranes were measured by a contact‐angle goniometer.

Tailoring Physical Aging in Super Glassy Polymers with Functionalized Porous Aromatic Frameworks for CO2 Capture

“…8 These are factors that inhibit the deployment of new polymers for membrane separations. 9,10 The problem of physical aging remains an important issue to be fully resolved prior to exploiting super glass polymers such as the polyacetylene, PTMSP.…”

Ending Aging in Super Glassy Polymer Membranes

“…One approach included the use of additives, such as nanoparticles, [12] polymer blends, [13] or microporous organic fillers (or polymers), [14] to prop open and increase transport pathways. Other approaches were aimed at rigidifying the initial polymer structure in place, using surface plasma treatment, [15] crosslinking, [16] or co-polymerization. [17] Additive approaches did not sufficiently stabilize the FFV to stop aging, whereas crosslinking was successful at stopping aging but with a major loss in permeability.…”

PIM-1 mixed matrix membranes for gas separations using cost-effective hypercrosslinked nanoparticle fillers

“…13 This physical aging process poses a major challenge for the commercial application of glassy polymers, and this has motivated a large body of research with the goal of 'freezing in' the free volume. Approaches include rigidifying the initial polymer structure using surface plasma treatment, 14 co-polymerization, 15 or crosslinking. 16,17 These methods have been successful at reducing aging, but often with a major loss in permeability.…”