High Performance Electrospun Polynaphthalimide Nanofibrous Membranes with Excellent Resistance to Chemically Harsh Conditions

Polynaphthalimide (PNI) with six-membered imide ring ((6)-PI) has better chemical resistance than five-membered imide ring ((5)-PI), but is difficult to be processed into nanofibers due to the poor processability. In this work, we proposed a template strategy to fabricate nanofiber (6)-PI membranes and their composite membranes. Neat (6)-PI and (6)-PI composite fibrous membranes were prepared using high-molecular-weight polymers (5)-PAA and PVP as templates by electrospinning. FTIR, DMA, TGA and tensile tests were used to characterize their chemical structures, thermal stability and mechanical properties. Further eye-observation, micro-morphology investigation and tensile tests were applied to evaluate the chemical resistance of nanofibrous membranes in strong acid, strong alkaline, and concentrated salt. The results demonstrated that (6)-PI nanofibrous membranes possessed the best thermal stability, best acid, alkaline, and salt resistance with the highest mechanical retention. This study will provide basic information for high-performance electrospun (6)-PI nanofiber membranes and provide opportunities for applications of PIs in different chemically harsh environments.

Automated summary

Utilizing a template strategy, nanofiber (6)-PI membranes with better chemical resistance were successfully fabricated, showing excellent thermal stability, acid, alkaline, and salt resistance, as well as high mechanical retention.