Polymeric membranes were prepared with interpenetrating polymer network (IPN) of polyuretane (PU) and polymethylacrylate (PMA) or blends of PU and PMA, followed by investigation of the separation characteristics for benzene/hexane mixtures. PU/PMA IPN membrane showed broad T_g and appeared to possess good misibility in DSC and SEM compared with the blends. The swelling ratio and flux of the membranes increased as the concentration of benzene in benzene/hexane mixture was increased. It was observed that benzene permeated preferentially through the membranes and the separation factor increased as the PU content of the membranes was increased. It was found that the swelling ratio and fiux the IPN membranes were lower than those of the blend membranes for the feed solutions. The separation factor of the IPN membranes was higher than that of the blend membranes. The performance of IPN membranes for separation of the benzene/hexane mixture by pervaporation was proved to be superior to the blend membranes.

PU/PMA IPN막과 블렌드 고분자막들을 합성하여 벤젠/헥산 혼합물의 분리특성을 알아 보았다. DSC와 SEM실험결과 블렌드막에 비하여 PU/PMA IPN막이 완만한 T_g와 좋은 상용성을 나타내었다. 막의 팽윤도와 투과속도는 벤젠/헥산 혼합용액에서 벤젠농도가 증가할수록 증가하였다. 또한 벤젠을 선택적으로 투과시키며, PU함량이 증가할수록 선택도는 증가하였다. 블렌드막들에 비하여 IPN막들이 낮은 팽윤도와 투과속도를 나타내었으나 IPN막들이 블렌드막들보다 높은 선택도를 나타내었다. 투과증발에 의한 벤젠/헥산 혼합용액의 분리능은 IPN막들이 블렌드막들보다 우수하였다.

Keywords: polyurethane; polymethylacrylate; interpenetrating; polymer network; glass transition temperature; separation factor; flux