Sorption and diffusion of aliphatic hydrocarbons into crosslinked natural rubber

The sorption and transport of four aliphatic hydrocarbons into natural rubber crosslinked by different vulcanization systems [conventional (CV), efficient (EV), peroxide (DCP) and a mixed system consisting of sulfur and peroxide (mixed)] were investigated in the temperature interval of 28–60°C. Of the four systems, natural rubber vulcanized by DCP exhibited lowest penetrant uptake. It was observed that the kinetics of liquid sorption in every case deviates from the regular Fickian trend, characteristic of sorption of liquids by rubbers. The diffusion coefficient, activation energy of sorption, enthalpy, entropy, and the rubber-solvent interaction parameter were evaluated for the four systems from the swelling data. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys 35: 725–734, 1997     

Sorption and transport of linear alkane hydrocarbons in biaxially oriented polyethylene terephthalate

Equilibrium sorption and uptake kinetics of n‐butane and n‐pentane in uniform, biaxially oriented, semicrystalline polyethylene terephthalate films were examined at 35 °C and for pressures ranging from 0 to approximately 76 cmHg. Sorption isotherms were well described by the dual‐mode sorption model. Sorption kinetics were described either by Fickian diffusion or a two‐stage model incorporating Fickian diffusion at short times and protracted polymer structural relaxation at long times. Diffusion coefficients increased with increasing penetrant concentration. n‐Butane solubility was lower than that of n‐pentane, consistent with the more condensable nature of n‐pentane. However, n‐butane diffusion coefficients were higher than those of n‐pentane. Infinite‐dilution, estimated amorphous phase diffusion and solubility coefficients were well correlated with penetrant critical volume and critical temperature, respectively. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys 39: 1160–1172, 2001     

Sorption and diffusion of oxygen in plasticized ethyl cellulose films of varying degrees of substitution

Plasticized films cast from ethyl cellulose were examined to evaluate the effect of the degree of substitution, DS, and the plasticizer content on the sorption and diffusion of oxygen. Sorption and permeation measurements were performed over a temperature range of 25–65°C on three different types of ethyl cellulose in the DS range 1.7–2.5 that had been plasticized with organic esters of comparatively low molecular weight. Sorption coefficients were determined by the pressure decay method, and permeability coefficients were measured independently according to ASTM D-1434-66. The diffusion coefficients were calculated assuming Fickian transport, and were compared to the values directly obtained from the evaluation of the sorption kinetics. The permeability coefficient indicates that there is a significant improvement of the barrier properties of the materials when the DS is reduced and when the plasticizer content is at the absolute minimum required. It was found that the variation in the magnitude of the permeability coefficient is related to the value of the diffusion coefficient, which is governed by the chemical composition of the mixtures. In contrast, the solubility of oxygen was determined by the physical state of the polymer matrix and increased rapidly at temperatures significantly below the glass transition temperature. Using an ergodic model, the diffusion coefficients obtained were related to the size distribution of microvoids in the materials and relative values for the diffusion coefficient were computed as a function of DS and temperature. The model calculates the concentration (number per volume) of voids that are large enough to be occupied by a penetrant molecule. It was assumed that the unoccupied volume fraction as a function of the cohesive energy density follows a Boltzmann distribution. The cohesive energy density and the unoccupied volume fraction of the polymer-plasticizer mixtures were calculated by fitting the Simha-Somcynsky equation of state to pressure-volume-temperature data. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys, 35: 639–653, 1997     

Solubility,diffusivity, and mobility of n-pentane and ethanol in poly(1-trimethylsilyl-1-propyne)

The diffusion coefficient of ethanol and of n-pentane in PTMSP, at 27°C, was measured as a function of concentration up to a penetrant content of about 12% by weight, for polymer samples obtained through different processes; differential sorptions and desorptions with vapor phases were considered. In the case of ethanol a nonmonotonous behavior was observed for the diffusivity, while in the case of n-pentane the same property was found to monotonously decrease with increasing the penetrant content. The sorption isotherms were also reported, indicating that n-pentane exhibits a typical dual mode behavior, while ethanol follows an unusual s-shape curve. The chemical potential of the dissolved penetrants, calculated directly from the isotherms, shows the very different importance of the energetic interactions of the two penetrants with the polymer units. In spite of the remarkably different concentration dependencies observed for both solubility and diffusivity of the two penetrants, the mobility factors are in both cases monotonously decreasing with the penetrant concentration, and follow very similar trends. The significant differences observed for the concentration dependence of the diffusion coefficients are, thus, associated to the thermodynamic contributions, which are very different for n-pentane and ethanol. Different polymeric films, obtained through different solvent evaporation processes, show quite different solubility, diffusivity and mobility for both ethanol and n-pentane. On the other hand, the ratio between the mobility of the two penetrants as well as the slope of mobility as function of the concentration remains the same for all the different samples inspected. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys 35 : 2245–2258, 1997     

Finite concentration inverse gas chromatography: Diffusion and partition measurements

Inverse gas chromatography (IGC) is a very fast, accurate, and reliable technique to measure diffusion coefficients. This technique however, has been limited to measurements in the infinite dilution region, i.e., in the region of negligible amount of solvent in the polymer. We have extended the scope of inverse gas chromatography to measure diffusion coefficients at finite concentrations of the solvent. This involves doping the carrier gas with a solvent of interest to achieve finite concentrations of solvent in the carrier gas and hence in the polymer. The carrier gas is passed through a saturator maintained at constant temperature to achieve this purpose. Diffusion coefficients for polyvinyl acetate–toluene, and polystyrene–toluene systems were determined at finite concentrations. The results were compared with the traditional gravimetric sorption and piezoelectric sorption measurements reported in the literature. The data are in excellent agreement with the values reported, correlate well with the Vrentas–Duda free volume theory, and can also be predicted from infinitely dilute data using the free volume theory. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys 35 : 1279–1290, 1997     

Multicomponent diffusion of methyl ethyl ketone and toluene in polyisobutylene from vapor sorption FTIR-ATR spectroscopy

In this study, diffusion coefficients of toluene/methyl ethyl ketone (MEK) mixtures in polyisobutylene were measured at 50°C using vapor sorption FTIR-ATR (Fourier Transform Infrared Attenuated Total Reflectance) spectroscopy. For three mixture compositions, the diffusion coefficients were determined using a diffusion framework for ternary systems. The “crossterm” diffusion coefficient for MEK was found to be very small under the experimental conditions studied here, while that for toluene was found to increase with increasing MEK concentration. On the basis of this finding, a binary diffusion model was used to determine diffusion coefficients for MEK over a wide range of mixture compositions and the results compared well with those determined from pure MEK transport data. Relative transport rates during integral sorption experiments with mixtures were used to explain the results. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys 36 : 337–344, 1998     

Sorption of methanol/MTBE and diffusion of methanol in 6FDA–ODA polyimide

This article discusses the diffusion and solubility behavior of methanol/methyl tert‐butyl ether (MTBE) in glassy 6FDA–ODA polyimide prepared from hexafluoroisopropylidene 2,2‐bis(phthalic anhydride) (6FDA) and oxydianiline (ODA). The diffusion coefficients and sorption isotherm of methanol vapor in 6FDA–ODA polyimide at various pressures and film thicknesses were obtained with a McBain‐type vapor sorption apparatus. Methanol/MTBE mixed‐liquid sorption isotherms were obtained by head‐space chromatography and compared with a pure methanol sorption isotherm obtained with a quartz spring balance. Methanol sorption isotherms obtained with the two methods were almost identical. Both methanol sorption isotherms obeyed the dual‐mode model at a lower activity, which is typical for glassy polymer behavior. The MTBE was readily sorbed into the polymer in the presence of methanol, but the MTBE sorption isotherm exhibited a highly nonideal behavior. The MTBE sorption levels were a strong function of the methanol sorption level. Methanol diffusion in the polymer was analyzed in terms of the partial immobilization model with model parameters obtained from average diffusion coefficients and the dual‐mode sorption parameters. Simple average diffusion coefficients were obtained from sorption kinetics experiments, whereas the dual‐mode sorption parameters were obtained from equilibrium methanol sorption experiments. An analysis of the mobility and solubility data for methanol indicated that methanol tends to form clusters at higher sorption levels. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys 38: 2254–2267, 2000     

Ethylbenzene solubility,diffusivity, and permeability in poly(dimethylsiloxane)

The pure‐gas sorption, diffusion, and permeation properties of ethylbenzene in poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) are reported at 35, 45, and 55 °C and at pressures ranging from 0 to 4.4 cmHg. Additionally, mixed‐gas ethylbenzene/N₂ permeability properties at 35 °C, a total feed pressure of 10 atm, and a permeate pressure of 1 atm are reported. Ethylbenzene solubility increases with increasing penetrant relative pressure and can be described by the Flory–Rehner model with an interaction parameter of 0.24 ± 0.02. At a fixed relative pressure, ethylbenzene solubility decreases with increasing temperature, and the enthalpy of sorption is −41.4 ± 0.3 kJ/mol, which is independent of ethylbenzene concentration and essentially equal to the enthalpy of condensation of pure ethylbenzene. Ethylbenzene diffusion coefficients decrease with increasing concentration at 35 °C. The activation energy of ethylbenzene diffusion in PDMS at infinite dilution is 49 ± 6 kJ/mol. The ethylbenzene activation energies of permeation decrease from near 0 to −34 ± 7 kJ/mol as concentration increases, whereas the activation energy of permeation for pure N₂ is 8 ± 2 kJ/mol. At 35 °C, ethylbenzene and N₂ permeability coefficients determined from pure‐gas permeation experiments are similar to those obtained from mixed‐gas permeation experiments, and ethylbenzene/N₂ selectivity values as high as 800 were observed. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys 38: 1461–1473, 2000     

Temperature and concentration dependence of diffusion coefficients in ethylene–propylene-diene copolymers

Self-diffusion and partition coefficients were measured for two commercial ethylene–propylene-diene copolymers (EPDM) and five solvents at infinite dilution using inverse gas chromatography. Mutual diffusion coefficients for solvents in EPDM also were measured for finite concentration using gravimetric sorption for three of the solvents. From the inverse gas chromatography experimental values for self-diffusion coefficients were obtained. Free-volume parameters were obtained through regression of the self-diffusion coefficient as a function of temperature. Mutual diffusion coefficients as a function of concentration were predicted using free volume theory and compared with experimental data obtained using gravimetric sorption. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys 36: 1713–1719, 1998     

Sorption and pervaporation properties of sulfonyl‐containing polyimide membrane to aromatic/non‐aromatic hydrocarbon mixtures

Sorption of single‐component vapors of benzene (Bz), n‐hexane (Hx), and cyclohexane (Cx), and of binary liquid mixtures of Bz/Hx and Bz/Cx in a polyimide from 3,3′,4,4′‐diphenylsulfone‐tetracarboxylic dianhydride (DSDA) and 2,8(6)‐dimethyl‐3,7‐diaminobenzothiophene‐5,5‐dioxide (DDBT) were investigated in detail at 333 K. Sorption and desorption of vapors followed the non‐Fickian kinetics and the sorption isotherms were concave to the vapor activity. For the binary liquids, the sorption isotherms of the Bz component were concave to the Bz composition in feed, whereas those of Hx and Cx were convex because of competitive sorption. As a result, the solubility selectivity was much larger than the sorption ratio of pure liquids. The concentration‐averaged diffusion coefficients of Bz (D̄_Bz) and Hx (D̄_Hx) were evaluated using the sorption and pervaporation data of the polyimide membrane toward the binary mixtures. A kind of coupling effect of the coexisting component on D̄ was observed. That is, D̄ of penetrant with smaller molecular size (Hx and Bz for Bz/Hx and Bz/Cx systems, respectively) was reduced by the presence of penetrant with larger molecular size (Bz and Cx, respectively) and vice versa. D̄_Bz was similar to D̄_Hx, but much larger than D̄_Cx. The difference in PV behavior between Bz/Hx and Bz/Cx systems for glassy polymer membranes was understood based on the aforementioned features of sorption and diffusion. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys 38: 2954–2964, 2000     

Transport of toluene/methyl ethyl ketone mixtures in polyisobutylene

In this study, the diffusion behavior of methyl ethyl ketone (MEK)/toluene mixtures, with MEK molar fractions (x₁) in the liquid source lower than 0.2, in polyisobutylene (PIB) was investigated with vapor‐sorption Fourier transform infrared attenuated total reflectance (FTIR‐ATR) spectroscopy. FTIR‐ATR Fickian diffusion models for both binary and ternary systems were used to determine diffusion coefficients. Obtained diffusion coefficients for MEK from the binary diffusion model did not agree with those determined previously for the diffusion of MEK/toluene mixtures, with x₁ > 0.2, in PIB. When the ternary diffusion model was used, the main‐term and cross‐term diffusion coefficients of MEK were comparable. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys 39: 908–914, 2001     

Diffusion in gas separation membrane materials: A comparison and analysis of experimental characterization techniques

Typically, materials with high-performance transport properties such as zeolites, carbon molecular sieves, or hyper rigid polymers are inherently difficult or impossible to characterize by steady-state membrane permeation experiments used for conventional polymers. Diffusion coefficients determined by transient sorption, a measurement easily performed on brittle media, are analyzed here and compared to those determined by steady-state permeation/sorption and transient permeation for a glassy polymer and a carbon molecular sieve. Average and local diffusion coefficients are extrapolated to zero upstream partial pressure to eliminate effects caused by concentration dependence. Good agreement between the techniques was observed for the glassy polymer. On the other hand, carbon molecular sieves, possessing a more complex morphology, exhibit a greater difference in diffusion coefficients determined by the various techniques. Nevertheless, comparison of the analysis techniques is shown to provide potentially valuable insights into the morphological features of such carbon molecular sieves. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys 36: 1747–1755, 1998     

Molecular transport of aromatic hydrocarbons through nylon‐6/ethylene propylene rubber blends: Relationship between phase morphology and transport characteristics

Molecular transport of aromatic hydrocarbons through nylon/ethylene propylene rubber (EPR) blend has been investigated in the temperature range of 25 to 65 °C. The effect of blend ratio on the transport behavior was studied in detail. Nylon/EPR‐50/50 blend shows the lowest uptake among all the systems studied. This behavior is related to blend morphology, density, and crystallinity of the blend composition. The transport property was correlated with the extent of interfacial adhesion in the blends. The effects of temperature and penetrant size on the sorption behavior were examined. Thermodynamic and Arrhenius parameters were evaluated from the diffusion data. Theoretical and experimental diffusion results were compared. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys 38: 2136–2153, 2000     

Pure and mixed gas acetone/nitrogen permeation properties of polydimethylsiloxane [PDMS]

The permeability of polydimethylsiloxane [PDMS] to acetone, nitrogen, and acetone/nitrogen mixtures has been determined at 28°C. In pure gas experiments, the permeability of PDMS to nitrogen was 245 × 10⁻¹⁰ cm³(STP) · cm/cm² · s · cmHg and was independent of pressure. The permeability of PDMS to acetone vapor increased exponentially with increasing acetone pressure. PDMS is much more permeable to acetone than to nitrogen; acetone/nitrogen selectivity increases from 85 to 185 as acetone partial pressure in the feed increases from 0 to 67% of saturation. In mixed gas permeation experiments, the nitrogen permeability coefficient is independent of acetone relative pressure and is equal to the pure gas permeability coefficient. The acetone permeability coefficient has the same value in both mixed gas and pure acetone permeation experiments. Average acetone diffusivity in PDMS, determined as the ratio of permeability to solubility, decreases with increasing acetone concentration due to mild clustering of acetone in the polymer (because acetone is a poor solvent for PDMS) and changes in the polymer–penetrant thermodynamic interactions which influence diffusion coefficients. A Zimm–Lundberg analysis of the acetone sorption isotherm is also consistent with acetone clustering in PDMS. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys 36 : 289–301, 1998     

Pressure and temperature dependence of the gas‐transport properties of dense poly[2,6‐toluene‐2,2‐bis(3,4‐dicarboxylphenyl)hexafluoropropane diimide] membranes

The gas‐transport properties of poly[2,6‐toluene‐2,2‐bis(3,4‐dicarboxylphenyl)hexafluoropropane diimide] (6FDA‐2,6‐DAT) have been investigated. The sorption behavior of dense 6FDA‐2,6‐DAT membranes is well described by the dual‐mode sorption model and has certain relationships with the critical temperatures of the penetrants. The solubility coefficient decreases with an increase in either the pressure or temperature. The temperature dependence of the diffusivity coefficient increases with an increase in the penetrant size, as the order of the activation energy for the diffusion jump is CH₄ > N₂ > O₂ > CO₂. Also, the average diffusion coefficient increases with increasing pressure for all the gases tested. As a combined contribution from sorption and diffusion, permeability decreases with increases in the pressure and the kinetic diameter of the penetrant molecules. Even up to 32.7 atm, no plasticization phenomenon can be observed on flat dense 6FDA‐2,6‐DAT membranes from their permeability–pressure curves. However, just as for other gases, the absolute value of the heat of sorption of CO₂ decreases with increasing pressure at a low‐pressure range, but the trend changes when the feed pressure is greater than 10 atm. This implies that CO₂‐induced plasticization may occur and reduce the positive enthalpy required to create a site into which a penetrant can be sorbed. Therefore, a better diagnosis of the inherent threshold pressure for the plasticization of a glassy polymer membrane may involve examining the absolute value of the heat of sorption as a function of pressure and identifying the turning point at which the gradient of the absolute value of the heat of sorption against pressure turns from a negative value to a positive one. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 42: 354–364, 2004     

Sorption and diffusion of carbon dioxide in wood‐fiber/polystyrene composites

In this study, sorption and diffusion of carbon dioxide (CO₂) in wood‐fiber/polystyrene composites were investigated. The effects of gas pressure and fiber content on the solubility and diffusion coefficients were evaluated. A statistical analysis indicated that pressure is more important than fiber content in determining the solubility and diffusivity of CO₂. An increase in saturation pressure causes an increase in the solubility and diffusion coefficients, whereas inclusion of the fibers decreases both of these properties. Models were developed to predict the uptake and diffusion coefficients of CO₂ in the composite samples as functions of pressure and fiber content. A theoretical model based on Henry's law and the Langmuir equation compared favorably to the experimental data for CO₂ solubility. This dual mode model also described both the transient sorption and desorption data, but only if the concentration‐dependent value of diffusivity was treated as a history‐dependent parameter. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 40: 723–735, 2002     

Water transport properties of thermoplastic polyurethane films

Two linear segmented polyurethanes, based on poly(oxyethylene) (POE) as a soft segment and 4,4′‐diphenylmethane diisocyanate and 1,4‐butanediol as hard segments and differing in their soft segment length, have been studied from a water vapor transport point of view. For both polyurethanes, the water sorption is governed by a Fickian process, and the thermoplastic polyurethane with the longer POE segments displays the higher water diffusion rate. The water sorption isotherms are Brunauer Emmet Teller (BET) type III for both thermoplastic polyurethanes, and the water uptakes are directly related to the polymer POE content. The Flory–Huggins theory cannot correctly describe the sorption isotherms. More sophisticated approaches (Koningsveld–Kleinjtens or Guggenheim‐Anderson‐de Boer (GAB) models) are needed to fit the experimental water uptakes. The positive deviation from Henry's law and the decrease in the apparent diffusion coefficient observed at a high activity have been particularly studied. In this activity range, an isotherm analysis based on the cluster integral of Zimm and Lundberg suggests some clustering phenomenon, which seems consistent with the diffusion coefficient variation. In agreement with the sorption results, the water permeability coefficients are small at low activities, and they increase greatly with the relative pressure of water. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 42: 473–492, 2004     

Swelling equilibrium and sorption kinetics of urethane-modified bismaleimides elastomer

The swelling equilibrium and diffusion kinetics in various solvents of the maleimide-terminated polyurethanes (UBMIs) and of the triol and tetraol-crosslinked polyurethanes (PU) were studied. The polymer volume fraction of the UBMIs at swelling equilibrium is much higher than that of the tetraol-crosslinked PU networks for the same type of polyol used in the PU. It was explained by the high functionality of the UBMIs produced in the network structure. Furthermore, the molecular weight between crosslinks (M_c) has been calculated from the swelling model and the results exhibit good agreement with the proposed network structure. The early time sorption kinetic data were obtained to investigate the diffusion mechanism of the solvent in the networks. The solubility, diffusion coefficients, and permeability of the solvent in UBMI networks were found to be lower than in the multiol-crosslinked PU networks. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys 35: 1747–1755, 1997     

Water sorption and transport in blends of poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) and polysulfone

Water sorption and transport properties for a series of miscible blends of hydrophobic bisphenol A polysulfone and hydrophilic poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) are reported. Study was restricted to blends that remained homogeneous after exposure to liquid water. The solubility of water in the blend films increased with increasing hydrophilic polymer content. Equilibrium sorption isotherms show dual-mode behavior at low activities and swelling behavior at high activities. The sorption kinetics are generally Fickian for blends containing 20% poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) or less, but exhibit two-stage behavior in blends containing 40% poly(vinyl pyrrolidone). Diffusion coefficients extrapolated to zero concentration decrease with increasing poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) content, owing to a decrease in the fractional free volume. However, the diffusion coefficient becomes a greater function of activity as the composition of hydrophilic polymer in the blend is increased, due to plasticization of the material by large levels of sorbed water. Permeability coefficients generally decrease with increasing poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) content for blends containing 20% poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) or less because the decrease in the diffusion coefficient is greater than the increase in the solubility coefficient. Blends containing 40% poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) have permeability coefficients greater than those of polysulfone due to high water solubility. The permeability coefficients depend on water concentration in approximately the same way for all blends. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys, 35: 655–674, 1997