Synthesis, oxidation and crosslinking of tetramethyl bisphenol F (TMBPF)-based polymers for oxygen/nitrogen gas separations

Amorphous, high glass transition, crosslinkable poly(arylene ether)s for gas purification membranes have been synthesized. The polymers include a moiety capable of several oxidation reactions and UV crosslinking. Structural identification was confirmed by 1H NMR and IR spectroscopy and molecular weights were determined by SEC. Two oxidation reactions of the polymers were identified, one by chemical treatment using Oxone and KBr and one by elevated thermal treatment in air. DSC and TGA were used for thermal characterization, and TGA, 1H NMR and ATR-FTIR revealed the progress of the thermal oxidation reactions. Both polymers produced tough, ductile films and gas transport properties of the non-crosslinked linear polymers and crosslinked polymer are compared. The O2 permeability of one exemplary non-crosslinked poly(arylene ether) was 2.8 Barrer, with an O2/N2 selectivity of 5.4. Following UV crosslinking, the O2 permeability decreased to 1.8 Barrer, and the O2/N2 selectivity increased to 6.2.