Oxygen permeation in SBS-g-DMAEMA copolymer membrane prepared by UV photografting without degassing

The grafting of dimethyl amino ethyl methacrylate (DMAEMA) onto styrene-but adiene-styrene triblock copolymer membrane (SBS) was induced by UV-radiatio n without degassing to obtain SBS-g-DMAEMA copolymer membrane. The graft co polymer membrane was characterized by electron spectroscopy for chemical an alysis (ESCA). The density and the decomposition temperature of the SBS-g-D MAEMA copolymer membrane were measured. The effects of DMAEMA grafting cont ent and operating temperature on membrane gas permeability were investigate d. It was found that the density of SBS-g-DMAEMA copolymer membrane increas ed with increasing DMAEMA content, whereas the decomposition temperature de creased. The changes of properties of SBS-g-DMAEMA copolymer membrane reduc ed the gas permeability and diffusivity of oxygen and nitrogen through the membrane, but increased the gas solubility of oxygen through the membrane a nd the gas selectivity between oxygen and nitrogen. When the operating temp erature of gas permeation was increased, the permeability, solubility and d iffusivity of oxygen and nitrogen increased but the selectivity decreased. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.