Gas transport properties of blend membranes based polycarbonate/polyamide 6: Effect of surface roughness

The separation of gases by membranes is a dynamic and rapidly growing field [1, 2]. The ‘‘heart’’ of a membrane process is the membrane itself. Criteria for selectingmembrane materials for a given separation are complex. Generally, durability, mechanical integrity at the operating conditions, productivity and separation efficiency areimportant stipulations [3]. Polymeric membranes generally undergo a tradeoff limitation between permeability and selectivity as shown in the upper bound curves developed by Robeson. Attempts are being made to improve the performance by modifying the polymer through blending,bring about an increase in both flux and selectivity of the membrane [4]. In the present study, polymeric membranes areprepared, based on polycarbonate (PC) as a matrix phase and polyamide 6 (PA6) as a disperse phase of blend, to increasethe oxygen/nitrogen selectivity of PC.