Influence of Macromolecular Brushes with Polyimide Backbones and Poly(methyl methacrylate) Side Chains on Structure, Physical, and Transport Properties of Polyphthalamide

Abstract

Composite films based on polyamide (poly(m‐phenylene‐iso‐phthalamide)) (PA) and a brush‐like polymer with polyimide (PI) backbone and side poly(methyl methacrylate) chains (PI‐PMMA) were prepared by mixing individual solutions of PA and PI‐PMMA and subsequent film casting. Macromolecular brushes with the same backbone length and density of side chains but with various lengths of side PMMA chains were synthesized via activator generated by electron transfer atom transfer radical polymerization. Interactions between PA and PI‐PMMA, as well as distribution of PI‐PMMA filler inside the PA matrix, were studied by viscometry, dynamic light scattering, differential scanning calorimetry, scanning electron microscopy, and IR spectroscopy. The mechanical properties of polymer samples were also investigated. Microphase separation was revealed in PA/PI‐PMMA films. The length of side chains influences interactions between PA and PI‐PMMA. At the same time, the degree of reduction in the rigidity parameters and in the elasticity parameter depends on the side chain length. Diffusion membranes were prepared on the basis of compositions with the best mechanical properties; these membranes proved to be highly efficient in pervaporation of methanol–hexane mixture. It was established that the fluxes and separation factors of the studied membranes are several times higher as compared to the corresponding characteristics of known commercial membranes. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 60:481–490, 2020. © 2019 Society of Plastics Engineers