Gas permeation properties of copolyimides from 1,4-bis(3,4-dicarboxyphenoxy)benzene dianhydride and 2,2-bis(3,4-dicarboxyphenyl)hexafluoroisopropane dianhydride

A series of aromatic copolyimides was prepared from 1,4-bis(3,4-dicarboxyphenoxy)benzene dianhydride (HQDPA) and 2,2-bis(3,4-dicarboxyphenyl)hexafluoroisopropane dianhydride (6FDA) with 3,3'-dimethyl-4,4'-methylene dianiline (DMMDA) by a chemical imidization. The gas permeability coefficients of the copolyimides to H-2, CO2, O-2, N-2 and CH4 were measured under 7 atm. pressure. The fractional free volume of 6FDA-DMMDA is larger than that of HQDPA-DMMDA, while the chain segmental mobility of 6FDA-DMMDA is lower than that of HQDPA-DMMDA. The gas permeability of 6FDA-DMMDA is much higher than that of HQDPA-DMMDA but the permselectivity of 6FDA-DMMDA for H-2, CO2, O-2, N-2 over CH4 is lower than that of HQDPA-DMMDA. The experimental values of the gas permeability coefficients of the copolyimides are in satisfactory agreement with the values estimated from the gas permeability coefficients of the constituent homopolyimides and their weight fractions.