Thermally-rearranged polymer blends for gas separation membranes

Patent · 28 March 2023

OSTI ID:1987254

Freeman, Benny D.; Paul, Donald R.; Moon, Joshua D.

Polymer blends comprising an ortho-functionalized polyimide homo or copolymer and a polybenzimidazole homo or copolymer, wherein the ortho-functionalized polyimide thermally rearranges to a polymer comprising a phenylene heterocyclic group, such as, polybenzoxazole, polybenzothiazole, polybenzimidazole and/or other heterocyclic structure upon heating. Also disclosed are method of forming a polymer blend comprising dissolving an ortho-functionalized polyimide homo or copolymer and a polybenzimidazole homo or copolymer in a solvent, and optional compatibilizer, to form a polymer solution; contacting a support with the polymer solution; and evaporating the solvent to provide a thin layer comprising the polymer blend on the support. Further, methods of heat treating these polymer blends to thermally rearrange the disclosed polyimides are disclosed, as are the polymer blends prepared thereby. Methods of using these polymer blends to separate gases are also disclosed.

• Research Organization: Univ. of Texas, Austin, TX (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• DOE Contract Number: FG02-02ER15362
• Assignee: The Board of Regents of the University of Texas System (Austin, TX)
• Patent Number(s): 11,613,649
• Application Number: 17/044,540
• OSTI ID: 1987254
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English