0000000000171997
AUTHOR
Alfredo T.n. Pires
Phase diagrams of the system tetrahydrofuran/γ-butyrolactone/poly(ether imide) and determination of interaction parameters
Abstract The thermodynamic interactions in the ternary mixture tetrahydrofuran/γ-butyrolactone/poly(ether imide) (THF/γ-BL/PEI) are investigated from 30 to 50°C. This is a membrane-forming system with a high He-selectivity. Cloud point measurements show that the two binary polymer solutions THF/PEI and γ-BL/PEI exhibit miscibility gaps which close towards the centre of the ternary phase diagram where the mixtures become homogeneous (cosolvency). Vapour pressures were determined for the subsystem THF/γ-BL. For the theoretical calculations the Gibbs energy of mixing is formulated according to the Flory-Huggins theory and the interaction parameter χ THF γ-BL calculated from the vapour pressure…
Asymmetric polysulfone and polyethersulfone membranes: effects of thermodynamic conditions during formation on their performance
Abstract Membranes of polysulfone (PSU) and polyethersulfone (PES) were prepared from ternary and quaternary mixtures containing N , N -dimethylformamide (DMF) as solvent, water as non-solvent, and acetone (AC) as additive. The conditions for phase inversion and the desired phase separation mechanisms were selected on the basis of the phase behavior determined for the solvent/non-solvent/polymer systems. The influences of the composition of the casting solution, of the support, and of film thickness on structure and permeation properties of the membranes were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) plus flux and separation experiments. The mechanisms of phase inversion that should pr…