Reduction of physical aging of glassy polymers through integration of polymer of intrinsic microporosity with zeolite templated carbon

Abstract

Polymer of intrinsic microporosity (PIM-1) is highlighted in the field of membrane-based separation due to its high permeability caused by random porous packing owing to the contorted linear chain formation by the spirocenters. However, such highly glassy polymers will go through physical aging process where the polymer chains will quickly repack themselves to reach their unachievable volumetric and thermodynamic equilibrium in the way that the fractional free volume is reduced, resulting in loss in porosity and permeability. To overcome this critical barrier to commercial application, Zeolite Templated Carbon (ZTC) was used as additives to the mixed matrix membrane as additive. The uniform micro-porous structure and free volume caged formation of ZTC acts as substrate that will hold the initial free volume of PIM-1. Permeability test of ZTC/PIM-1 mixed matrix membrane show that the initial permeability of 1 day aged film to exhibit higher N2 permeability compared to that of pristine PIM-1 film.