POLY(AMIDE-IMIDE) TIO2 NANO-COMPOSITE GAS SEPARATION MEMBRANES - FABRICATION AND CHARACTERIZATION/

Nano-composite membranes based on a fluorinated poly(amide-imide) and TiO2 were fabricated by a sol-gel method. Permeability data for gases such as O-2, N-2, CO2, H-2 and CH4 were collected as a function of pre ssure and temperature. With the exception of CO2 and H-2, all other ga ses exhibited higher activation energies for the nano-composite membra ne when compared with the pure poly(amide-mide), consistent with the p icture of a more rigid or denser structure as suggested by the physica l characterization data. The decrease in the activation energy for per meation in the case of CO2 and H-2 has been attributed to specific int eractions of these gases with the TiO2 domains. Significant improvemen ts in permselectivies of the poly(amide-imide) membrane have been obse rved in view of the volume percentage of the TiO2 incorporated into th e polymer matrix.