Poly(methyl methacrylate) with oligodimethylsiloxane grafts (MMA‐g‐DMS) was prepared by copolymerization of a dimethylsiloxane (DMS) macromonomer with methyl methacrylate (MMA). Two glass transition temperatures (Tg) were observed at about 120°C and − 127°C and in all graft copolymer membranes. Transmission electron micrographs demonstrate that the MMA‐g‐DMS membranes show microphase separation. When an aqueous solution of 10 wt.‐% ethanol was applied to permeations through the MMA‐g‐DMS membranes by pervaporation, the ethanol concentration in the permeate and the permeation rate increased drastically with the DMS content in the copolymer. Especially, while at a DMS content of less than 40 mol‐% preferentially water permeates from an aqueous solution of 10 wt.‐% ethanol, the membranes with more than about 40 mol‐% of DMS show ethanol‐permselectivity. The relationship between the microphase‐separated structures and the permeation characteristics for an aqueous ethanol solution is discussed.
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Miyata et al. (1995) studied this question.