The transport properties of polyimide isomers containing hexafluoroisopropylidene in the diamine residue

Abstract The effect of modification of the central moiety of the dianhydride residue and isomerism on the gas transport and physical properties were compared for six polyimides containing the hexafluoroisopropylidene group in the diamine residue. Substitution of bulkier groups within the dianhydride residue resulted in disruption of chain packing and slight increases in resistance to chain motions which led to an increase in permeability with little loss in selectivity. The permeabilities and diffusivities in the meta connected polyimide isomers were considerably lower than in the para connected polyimide isomers. Similarly, the permselectivities in the meta connected isomers were consistently higher than in the para connected isomers. These lower permeabilities and higher permselectivities were a result of the more dense packing and a significant suppression of small scale motions in the meta connected isomers. The suppression of segmental mobility in the meta connected isomers was indicated by an increase in the sub Tg transition temperatures in these materials relative to the para connected isomers. The differences in transport properties for these polyimides were attributed to contributions by several factors, including: (1) total free volume (2) distribution of free volume (3) intersegmental resistance to chain motions, and (4) intrasegmental resistance to chain motions. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.