Relationship between structure and gas permeation properties of polyimides prepared from oxydiphthalic dianhydride

Gas permeability coefficients of a series of aromatic polyimides, which were prepared from oxydiphthalic dianhydride (ODPA) with various aromatic diamines, with respect to H-2, CO2, O-2, N-2, and CH4 were measured under 10 atm and in the temperature range from 30 to 150 degrees C. A significant change in gas permeability and permselectivity resulting from systematic variation of the chemical structure of the polyimides was found. Among the polyimides which were prepared from phenylenediamine and its derivatives as well as bridged diamines without side groups on the benzene rings of the diamine residues, the increase of the gas permeability is accompanied by a decrease of the permselectivity. However, both the gas permeability and the permselectivity of the polyimides which were prepared from bridged diamines with methyl or methoxy groups on the benzene rings of the diamine residues simultaneously increase.