Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations are undertaken on a series of five copolyimides based on two different dianhydrides: the flexible 4,4′-oxydiphthalic dianhydride (ODPA) and the rigid bulky bicyclo(2.2.2)-oct-7-ene-2,3,5,6-tetracarboxylic dianhydride (BCDA). The diamines are respectively 4,4′oxydi(phenylamine) (ODA), 2-trifluoride-4,4′-oxydi(phenylamine) (CF 3ODA) and 2-methoxy-4,4′-oxydi-(phenylamine) (MeOODA). These are potential candidates for gas separation membranes, and the effects of increasing BCDA content in ODPA/BCDA copolyimides as well as adding trifluoromethyl or methoxy substituents on the ODA are studied at the molecular level. Amorphous long-chain models are built using a hybrid pivot Monte Carlo/MD sampling preparation procedure. The reproducibility of this approach is tested on a series of eight independently prepared systems. Densities, cohesive energies, Hildebrand parameters, conformational characteristics, intermolecular structures, and the available void spaces are analyzed for each system under study. Both the BCDA moiety and the trifluoromethyl substituent on the diamine are found to have similar consequences on the properties of the copolyimide by decreasing chain cohesion and increasing the available void space. This is related to the steric effect of the BCDA dianhydride, while the trifluoromethyl combines both steric and electronic repulsion. The steric effect of the methoxy substituent on the diamine is not strong enough to significantly differ from the unsubstituted system.

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The microstructures of a series of copolyimide films were characterized with different experimental methods such as density measurements, X-ray diffraction, ultraviolet-visible spectrophotometry, positron annihilation spectroscopy, and dynamic mechanical analysis. The experimental data were linked to the chemical structures of the polymers and especially the alicyclic and fluorinated monomers. Some analysis responses were directly dependent on the fluorine atoms and, therefore, did not provide clear information about the microstructures. The chain organization in the amorphous films appeared to be significantly dependent on the effect of the casting solvent. The influence of the alicyclic group content was quite significant for a nonsubstituted diamine but was strongly attenuated with a fluorinated diamine.

A series of polyimides with alicyclic and fluorinated moieties previously synthesized were studied for gas separation applications. The solubility behavior of polyimides in various solvents was analyzed through the solubility parameter approach. Permeability coefficients and ideal selectivities were determined for common gases, that is, He, H2, O2, and N2. Polyimide permeabilities were correlated to an improvement of the soluble character and were increased by the introduction of both alicyclic and fluorinated structures. The effect of the casting solvent on gas separation properties was also pointed out. It was found that it is enhanced with increasing diameters for the gas molecules. Finally, some correlations between permeability coefficients and microstructural parameters were discussed. The probability of correlation appears to be also dependent on the diameter and on the polarizability of the gas molecule. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 43: 2413–2426, 2005.

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