GAS-TRANSPORT PROPERTIES OF POLYCARBONATES AND POLYSULFONES WITH AROMATIC SUBSTITUTIONS ON THE BISPHENOL CONNECTOR GROUP

The effect that substitution of aromatic groups on the bisphenol connector unit of bisphenol-A based polycarbonate and polysulfone materials has on their gas transport properties was assessed. Replacement of a methyl group by a phenyl ring (bisphenol acetophenone polycarbonate, PC-AP, and bisphenol acetophenone polysulfone, PSF-AP) gives a small increase in permeability coefficients with similar or slightly higher selectivity for all gases compared to bisphenol-A polycarbonate, PC, or polysulfone, PSF. Substitution of two locked phenyl rings (fluorene bisophenol polycarbonate, FBPC, and fluorene bisphenol polysulfone, FBPSF) in place of the methyl groups in the connector unit leads to permeability and solubility coefficients that are about twice those observed for PC or PSF. Increases in permeability for the polycarbonate and polysulfone materials with aromatic substitutions are related to their larger fractional free volume. FBPC and FBPSF have the largest fractional free volume and the largest permeability coefficients. Thermal measurements show that the fluorene based polycarbonate and polysulfone materials have the highest thermal and oxidative stability. Such aromatic substitutions can be useful for developing gas separation membranes to be used in harsh thermal or oxidative environments. (C) 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.