Abstract
Graft copolymer membranes consisting of both ethanol- and water-permselective components for the separation of aqueous ethanol solutions were prepared by the copolymerization of an oligodimethylsiloxane (DMS) macromonomer with methyl methacrylate (MMA). This paper describes the relationship between microphase separation in MMA-g-DMS membranes and their permselectivity for aqueous ethanol solutions by pervaporation. The MMA-g-DMS membranes changed drastically from water to ethanol permselective according to the DMS content. Using a transmission electron microscope, appreciable microphase separation was observed in the MMA-g-DMS membranes. The change in the permselectivity of the MMA-g-DMS membranes could be explained by morphological changes in the microphase separation, based on Maxwell's model and a combined model consisting of both parallel and series models. Furthermore, image processing of the transmission electron micrographs enabled us to reveal the percolation transition of the DMS phase at a DMS content of about 40 mol %. These results suggest that the continuity of DMS phases in the microphase separation of MMA-g-DMS membranes directly affects their permselectivity for aqueous ethanol solutions.
Published Version
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