Ziel
The project is intended to carry out the first systematic investigation of novel, very interesting glassy polymers - so-called polymers of intrinsic microporosity (PIMs). An interest in these polymers was caused, as preliminary studies have indicated, by their unusual structure-transport properties: in contrast to previously known high permeability materials, their gas permeation parameters are induced not by the presence of bulky side groups (e.g. SiMe3), but by rigid, contorted main chains that cannot be packed densely and, hence, lead to intrinsic microporosity (large free volume) in the polymer matrix. The project consortium includes specialists having different profiles and expertise: synthetic polymer chemists, physicists (experts in free volume study in polymers) and membranologists. A representative group of new PIMs with various structures will be prepared and characterized.
The subsequent studies involve investigation of gas, vapour and liquid permeation and a detailed study of free volume in PIMs using a set of probe methods:
(i) nitrogen sorption analysis,
(ii) positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy and
(iii) inverse gas chromatography.
It should be noted that this project represents the first joint application of all three aforementioned probe methods. In addition, radiothermoluminescence measurements will be undertaken to investigate aspects of polymer mobility. Gas and vapour permeation parameters of novel PIMs will be determined using sensitive and versatile barometric and mass spectrometric techniques. The separation of liquid mixtures by per-vaporation will also be investigated. The quality of the novel materials will be assessed by analysing the information from the Database on transport properties of membrane materials available at participants of this project.
This work is relevant to a variety of separation problems of considerable technological, ecological and social importance, including air separation, separation of H2 and CO2 containing mixtures, separation of light hydrocarbons and the removal of organic vapours from mixtures with permanent gases.
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MANCHESTER
Vereinigtes Königreich