Polycarbonate/Polyamide 6/Nanoclay Ternary Nanocomposite Membranes: Preparation, Characterisation, and Gas Separation Properties
In this study, polymer membranes were prepared by the solution technique, based on a polycarbonate (PC)/polyamide 6 (PA6) blend, using PC as the matrix phase and PA6 as the dispersed phase. Moreover, nanocomposite membranes were also prepared by the solution technique on the basis of a PC/PA6/nanoclay blend. The permeability of the polymer membranes were calculated using theoretical models. The cross-sectional morphology of the prepared membranes were observed by SEM. The surface roughness of the samples were measured by AFM. XRD was used to analyseanalyzse nanodispersions in the blend. Results showed that the levels of porosity and surface roughness of membranes decreased with increase in PA6 concentration. According to the results of theoretical lingmodelling and the cross-sectional morphology and surface roughness of the membranes, an increase in permeability is expected with increase in PA6 concentration. With the addition of nanoclay to the blend, the degree of porosity and the free volume decreased, and the roughness in the membrane also decreased; in fact, a decrease in permeability is expected when nanoclays are added.