Synthesis, characterization, and pervaporation performance of random copolymers of poly(amidesulfonamide)s (PASAs)

Stimulated by the outstanding membrane properties of poly(amidesulfonamide)s (PASAs), 2 series of copolymers were synthesized by low-temperature solution polycondensation of either the diamino monomer N,N′-bis(4-aminophenylsulfonyl)piperazine (1A) or N,N′-bis(4-aminophenylsulfonyl)-2,5-dimethylpiperazine (1B) with a mixture of isophthaloyl and terephthaloyl chloride. All of these copolymers were adequately characterised by intrinsic viscosity measurements, infrared (IR) spectroscopy. ¹H and ¹³C nuclear magnetic resonance, differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetric analysis, and wide-angle X-ray diffraction. The effects of various feed ratios of isophthaloyl-terephthaloyl chloride on the physical properties of the copolymers were investigated. In particular, the crystallinity of PASA copolymers was found to be trimmed down by copolymerizing diamino monomer 1A or 1B with increasing fraction of isophthaloyl chloride. It was envisioned that when the crystallinity of the PASA membranes decreased, permeation flux would be preferably increased at a minimum sacrifice of separation characteristics in the pervaporation process. Experimental findings, however, revealed that the resulting permeation flux and separation factor of pervaporation membranes derived from various copolymers were both within the same order of magnitude.