Free volume and intrinsic microporosity in polymers

Peter M. Budd, Neil B. McKeown, Detlev Fritsch

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    Abstract

    The concept of free volume is useful for explaining aspects of the chain mobility and permeability of polymers, even though its precise definition is subject to debate. Polymers that trap a large amount of interconnected free volume in the glassy state behave in many respects like microporous materials and potentially find application in membrane separations and heterogeneous catalysis. The development is outlined of a new type of polymer, for which the molecular structure contains sites of contortion (e.g. spiro-centres) within a rigid backbone (e.g. ladder polymer). These polymers of intrinsic microporosity (PIMs) include both insoluble network polymers and soluble non-network polymers that may be processed into membranes or other useful forms. Experimental methods are discussed for elucidating the free volume or micropore distribution, and the behaviour of PIMs is compared with that of the ultrapermeable polymer poly(1-trimethylsilyl-l-propyne). © The Royal Society of Chemistry 2005.
    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)1977-1986
    Number of pages9
    JournalJournal of Materials Chemistry
    Volume15
    Issue number20
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 28 May 2005

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