Abstract:
An amphiphilic block copolymer comprises a poly(phenylene ether) block or a poly(phenylene ether) copolymer block and a hydrophilic block or graft. A method of making the amphiphilic block copolymer comprises polymerization of a hydrophilic ethylenically unsaturated monomer in the presence of poly(phenylene ether) or a poly(phenylene ether) copolymer to make the amphiphilic block copolymer. A porous asymmetric membrane comprises a poly(phenylene ether) or poly(phenylene ether) copolymer, and the amphiphilic block copolymer comprising a poly(phenylene ether) block or a poly(phenylene ether) copolymer block, and a hydrophilic block or graft. The porous asymmetric membrane is made by phase-inversion of a dope solution of the poly(phenylene ether) or poly(phenylene ether) copolymer and the amphiphilic block copolymer in a coagulation bath.
Abstract:
An amphiphilic block copolymer comprises a poly(phenylene ether) block or a poly(phenylene ether) copolymer block and a hydrophilic block or graft. A method of making the amphiphilic block copolymer comprises polymerization of a hydrophilic ethylenically unsaturated monomer in the presence of poly(phenylene ether) or a poly(phenylene ether) copolymer to make the amphiphilic block copolymer. A porous asymmetric membrane comprises a poly(phenylene ether) or poly(phenylene ether) copolymer, and the amphiphilic block copolymer comprising a poly(phenylene ether) block or a poly(phenylene ether) copolymer block, and a hydrophilic block or graft. The porous asymmetric membrane is made by phase-inversion of a dope solution of the poly(phenylene ether) or poly(phenylene ether) copolymer and the amphiphilic block copolymer in a coagulation bath.
Abstract:
An asymmetric membrane having a substantially non-porous surface layer is made by a method including: dissolving a poly(phenylene ether) copolymer in a solvent mixture including a first solvent and a second solvent to provide a membrane-forming composition; and phase-inverting the membrane forming composition in a first non-solvent to form the membrane comprising a substantially non-porous surface layer. The first solvent is a water-miscible polar aprotic solvent, and the second solvent is a polar solvent having two to eight carbon atoms.
Abstract:
A porous membrane made from a poly(phenylene ether) copolymer has at least one of: a molecular weight cut off of less than 40 kilodaltons or a surface pore size of 0.001 to 0.1 micrometers. The porous membrane is made by dissolving the poly(phenylene ether) copolymer in a water-miscible polar aprotic solvent to form a porous membrane-forming composition; and phase-inverting the porous asymmetric membrane forming-composition in a first non-solvent composition to form the porous mem-brane. The porous membrane can be in the form of a sheet or a hollow fiber, and can be fabricated into separation modules.
Abstract:
A phenylene ether oligomer composition is disclosed comprising, a phenylene ether oligomer having an external amine content of less than or equal to 1.5 weight percent; and a residual solvent in an amount of 10 to 10000 parts per million by weight, based on the weight of the phenylene ether oligomer composition; wherein the phenylene ether oligomer composition has an intrinsic viscosity of 0.03 to 0.13 deciliter per gram; a glass transition temperature of 135 to 175° C., or a combination thereof
Abstract:
A porous asymmetric membrane comprises a hydrophobic polymer comprising a poly(phenylene ether) or poly(phenylene ether) copolymer; and a polymer additive. A separation module can be fabricated from the porous asymmetric membrane. A method of forming the porous asymmetric membrane comprises: dissolving a hydrophobic polymer comprising a poly(phenylene ether) or poly(phenylene ether) copolymer and, a polymer additive in a water-miscible polar aprotic solvent to form a porous asymmetric membrane-forming composition; and phase-inverting the porous asymmetric membrane forming-composition in a first non-solvent composition to form the porous asymmetric membrane. The polymer additive comprises hydrophilic functional groups, copolymerized hydrophilic monomers, or blocks of hydrophilic monomer repeat units. For example, the polymer additive can comprise a hydrophilic polymer or amphiphilic polymer. The porous asymmetric membrane can be a flat membrane or hollow fiber.
Abstract:
A porous composite membrane includes a porous support layer of a poly(phenylene ether) or poly(phenylene ether) copolymer; and an amphiphilic copolymer having a hydrophobic block and a hydrophilic block or graft, wherein the hydrophobic block includes a polystyrene block, a poly(phenylene ether) block, or a poly(phenylene ether) copolymer block; and an ultrathin, cross-linked, water permeable layer, which is the reaction product of an electrophilic monomer and a nucleophilic monomer, in contact with a side of the porous support layer. The reaction product can be a polyamide that is the interfacial condensation product of: an aromatic, polyfunctional acyl halide comprising of 3 to 6 acyl halide groups per aromatic ring and an aromatic polyamine comprising at least two primary amine groups and a maximum number of primary amine groups that is less than or equal to the number of acyl halide groups on the polyfunctional acyl halide.
Abstract:
A porous asymmetric membrane comprises a hydrophobic polymer comprising a poly(phenylene ether) or poly(phenylene ether) copolymer; and a polymer additive. A separation module can be fabricated from the porous asymmetric membrane. A method of forming the porous asymmetric membrane comprises: dissolving a hydrophobic polymer comprising a poly(phenylene ether) or poly(phenylene ether) copolymer and, a polymer additive in a water-miscible polar aprotic solvent to form a porous asymmetric membrane-forming composition; and phase-inverting the porous asymmetric membrane forming-composition in a first non-solvent composition to form the porous asymmetric membrane. The polymer additive comprises hydrophilic functional groups, copolymerized hydrophilic monomers, or blocks of hydrophilic monomer repeat units. For example, the polymer additive can comprise a hydrophilic polymer or amphiphilic polymer. The porous asymmetric membrane can be a flat membrane or hollow fiber.
Abstract:
A method for isolating a phenylene ether oligomer composition includes feeding a solution including a solvent and a phenylene ether oligomer into a thin film evaporator, forming a film on an interior surface of the thin film evaporator, and heating to devolatilize the solvent from the film, to provide a phenylene ether oligomer composition. The thin film evaporator includes cylindrical heating chamber and a rotor having one or more rotor blades, wherein an edge of the one or more rotor blades and the interior surface of the cylindrical heating chamber are separated by a distance of 0.5 to 3.5 millimeters. Phenylene ether oligomer compositions are also described.
Abstract:
A porous asymmetric membrane comprises a hydrophobic polymer comprising a poly(phenylene ether) or poly(phenylene ether) copolymer; and a polymer additive. A separation module can be fabricated from the porous asymmetric membrane. A method of forming the porous asymmetric membrane comprises: dissolving a hydrophobic polymer comprising a poly(phenylene ether) or poly(phenylene ether) copolymer and, a polymer additive in a water-miscible polar aprotic solvent to form a porous asymmetric membrane-forming composition; and phase-inverting the porous asymmetric membrane forming-composition in a first non-solvent composition to form the porous asymmetric membrane. The polymer additive comprises hydrophilic functional groups, copolymerized hydrophilic monomers, or blocks of hydrophilic monomer repeat units. For example, the polymer additive can comprise a hydrophilic polymer or amphiphilic polymer. The porous asymmetric membrane can be a flat membrane or hollow fiber.