Objective 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. Keywords Characterization Coating Films Polymers Wires & Fibres Programme(s) IC-INTAS - International Association for the promotion of cooperation with scientists from the independent states of the former Soviet Union (INTAS), 1993- Topic(s) Data not available Call for proposal Data not available Funding Scheme Data not available Coordinator UNIVERSITY OF MANCHESTER EU contribution No data Address OXFORD ROAD MANCHESTER United Kingdom See on map Total cost No data Participants (4) Sort alphabetically Sort by EU Contribution Expand all Collapse all CARDIFF UNIVERSITY United Kingdom EU contribution No data Address PARK PLACE CARDIFF See on map Total cost No data GKSS-FORSCHUNGSZENTRUM GEESTHACHT GMBH Germany EU contribution No data Address KANTSTRASSE, 55 TELTOW See on map Total cost No data SEMENOV INSTITUTE OF CHEMICAL PHYSICS Russia EU contribution No data Address KOSYGIN STR., 4 MOSCOW See on map Total cost No data TOPCHIEV INSTITUTE OF PETROCHEMICAL SYNTHESIS Russia EU contribution No data Address LENINSKY PROSPEKT, 29 MOSCOW See on map Total cost No data
