Viscometric and sorption equilibrium studies on n-alkane-butanone-poly-(dimethylsiloxane) systems

Intrinsic viscosities, η], second virial coefficients, A₂, and preferential solvation coefficients, λ, for the ternary systems n-alkane (l)-butanone (2)-poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) (3), with n-alkane = n-hexane, n-heptane, n-nonane and n-undecane, have been determined at 20°. The K and a constants of the Mark-Houwink equation have been evaluated over the whole composition range of the binary solvent mixtures. Polymer (mixed solvent) interaction parameters and unperturbed dimensions have been evaluated both from A₂ and η] data, the feasibility of A₂ evaluation from η] experimental data or vice versa being discussed. Experimental and calculated (through Dondos and Patterson theory) excess free energies, G^E, follow similar trends with composition; large numerical discrepancies, however, arise between both sets of G^E. Maxima in η], in a and in A₂ are accompanied by inversion points in λ. The solvent mixture composition range in which PDMS is preferentially solvated by n-alkane, as well as the extent of solvation, decrease with increasing number of carbon atoms in the n-alkane.