Effects of solvent in the casting of poly(1-trimethylsilyl-1-propyne) membranes

Poly(1-trimethylsilyl-1-propyne) (PTMSP) membranes were fabricated by solvent casting from solutions of toluene, cyclohexane and tetrahydrofuran. The effects of the casting solvent on the physical structure of PTMSP were investigated using wide angle X-ray diffraction and positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy. The permeability of oxygen, nitrogen and carbon dioxide through the cast membranes was also measured. It was found that the nature of the casting solvent markedly influenced the conformation and the free volume of PTMSP, which in turn affected the gas permeability of the cast membranes.