Abstract: Functionalized porous poly(aryl ether ketone) articles are prepared by reacting ketone groups in the backbone of poly(aryl ether ketone) polymer with a primary amine reagent. Preferred functional primary amines are primary aliphatic amines or substituted hydrazines containing one or more target functional groups including polar groups, such as hydroxyl groups, ˜OH, amino groups, ˜NH2, ˜NHR, ˜NRR?, and ethylene oxide groups, ˜OCH2CH2—, negatively or positively charged ionic groups, such as ˜SO3?, ˜COO?, and ˜NH4+ groups, hydrophobic groups such as siloxane or perfluorcarbone groups, and non-polar groups, such as linear or branched hydrocarbon groups. The functionalized porous poly(aryl ether ketone) article can be prepared by reacting primary amine with a pre-formed, shaped porous poly(aryl ether ketone) article or by functionalizing the surface of a non-porous precursor article that is subsequently converted into a porous article.

Abstract: Porous poly(aryl ether ketone) (PAEK) articles are prepared from PAEK/polyimide blends by selective chemical decomposition and subsequent removal of the polyimide phase. Porous PAEK articles exhibit highly interconnected pore structure and a narrow pore size distribution. The porous PAEK articles of the present invention can be utilized as a porous media for a broad range of applications, including membranes for fluid separations, such as microfiltration, ultrafiltration, nanofiltration, and as a sorption media.