PROCESS AND DOPE FOR FORMING ASYMMETRIC GAS SEPARATION MEMBRANES HAVING GRADED DENSITY SKINS

摘要

36-21(5441) PROCESS AND DOPE FOR FORMING ASYMMETRIC GAS SEPARATION MEMBRANES HAVING GRADED DENSITY SKINS A process and dope are disclosed for forming high free volume, asymmetric gas separation membranes having graded density skins and macrovoid-free morphology from a solvent system comprising a Lewis acid, Lewis base, and a Lewis acid:base complex which dissolve hydrophobic polymers. The dopes have high total solids, high viscosity and low coagulation (g) values which enhance rapid gelation without the formation of macrovoids and which minimize densification. The dope solvent system complexes are readily disassociated by the coagulation medium and the component molecules are miscible in the medium which provides for rapid desolvation of the formed membrane thus providing a membrane having low residual solvent retention.