STUDIES ON OXYGEN ENRICHMENT PROPERTIES O F POLY(CIS-BUTADIENE) ESTER-ETHER LIQUID-CRYSTAL COMPOSITE MEMBRANES/

Polymer/liquid crystal composite membranes containing poly(cis-butadie ne) (PB) and diethylene glycol bis-4-(4'-ethoxybenzoyloxy) benzoate (D EBEB) with two transition mesophases were prepared for the first time and their oxygen enrichment properties were investigated.; The oxygen permeability of the composite membrane with 10% weight content of DEBE B liquid crystal exhibited several times greater than that of the PB m embrane at room temperature. Relationship between permeability coeffic ients and temperatures was characterized by N-shape curves, that is, t he permeability coefficients first increased, followed by decreasing, and then increased again with increasing temperature continuously, We interpret this result as effect of phase behavior of the liquid crysta l and morphology of the composite membranes on the permeabilities.