Effect on structural relaxation of the poly(methyl‐methacrylate) copolymers chain flexibility

The structural relaxation of poly(methyl‐methacrylate) (PMMA)‐based copolymers with different chain flexibility has been studied by DSC with the classical procedure of the isothermal and dynamical approach. Modified PMMA with different chain flexibility have been prepared by free radical polymerization in solution using a mixture of monomers containing 10 mol % of alkyl methacrylate (i.e., ethyl, buthyl, and hexyl methacrylate). The molecular characteristics of all the prepared copolymers have been performed by a multiangle laser light scattering (MALS) photometer on‐line to a size exclusion chromatography (SEC) system (SEC‐MALS) after and before the thermal treatments, NMR (¹H and ¹³C) and MALDI‐TOF mass spectrometry. A comparison of the apparent relaxation rate (R_H) was appraised from the enthalpy loss by annealing the different samples at the same level of undercooling (T_a = T_g ? 18 °C). It was found an increase of R_H increasing the chain flexibility in the copolymers. Dynamical tests, performed at different cooling rates, have been used to estimate the apparent activation energy of the relaxation process. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 47: 596–607, 2009     

Soret Coefficients for Aqueous Polyethylene Glycol Solutions and Some Tests of the Segmental Model of Polymer Thermal Diffusion

A thermogravitational cell is used to measure Soret coefficients (s) for dilute binary aqueous solutions of ethylene glycol, diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, tetraethylene glycol, and polyethylene glycol (PEG) fractions with average molecular weights from 200 to 20,000 g-mol^–1. The cell design allows the top and bottom halves of the solution column to be withdrawn and injected into a high-precision HPLC differential refractometer detector for analysis. Previously reported mutual diffusion coefficients D and the measured Soret coefficients are used to calculate thermal diffusion coefficients D _T. s and D vary with the PEG molecular weight M as M ^+0.53 and M ^–0.52, respectively; hence, D _T = sD is essentially independent of M. The segmental model of polymer thermal diffusion predicts D _T = D_seg U _S/RT ², where D _seg is the segment diffusion coefficient, U _S the solvent activation energy for viscous flow, R the gas constant, and T the temperature. The predicted D _T values, although independent of M, are too large by a factor of five. Additional tests of the segmental model are provided using literature data for polystyrene + toluene, n-alkane + CCl₄, and n-alkane + CHCl₃ solutions. Agreement with experiment is not obtained. In particular, the measured D _T values for the alkane solutions are negative.     

Thermal and mechanical properties of random copolymers of diisopropyl fumarate with 1‐adamantyl and bornyl acrylates with high glass transition temperatures

We report the thermal, optical, and mechanical properties of random copolymers produced by radical copolymerizations of diisopropyl fumarate (DiPF) with 1‐adamantyl acrylate (AdA) and bornyl acrylate (BoA). The effects of a methylene spacer included in the main chain and bulky ester alkyl groups in the side chain on the copolymer properties are discussed. The produced copolymers are characterized by NMR and UV–vis spectroscopies, size exclusion chromatography, thermogravimetric analysis, differential scanning calorimetry, and dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA). The copolymerization rate and the molecular weight of the copolymers increase with an increase in the acrylate content in feed during the copolymerization (M_w = 25–110 × 10³). The onset temperature of decomposition (T_d5) and the glass transition temperature (T_g) of the copolymers also increase according to the content of the acrylate units (T_d5 = 296–329 °C and 281–322 °C, T_g = 80–133 °C and 91–106 °C for the copolymers of DiPF with AdA and BoA, respectively). Transparent and flexible copolymer films are obtained by a casting method and their optical properties such as transparency and refractive indices are investigated (n_D = 1.478–1.479). The viscoelastic data of the copolymers are collected by DMA measurements under temperature control. The storage modulus decreases at a temperature region over the T_g value of the copolymers, depending on the structure and amount of the acrylate units. The sequence structure of the copolymers is analyzed based on monomer reactivity ratios and composition in order to discuss the copolymer properties related to chain rigidity and sequence length distribution. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2017 , 55, 288–296     

Radical copolymerization of N-alkylmaleimides with isobutene and the properties of the resulting alternating copolymers

Radical copolymerization of N-methylmaleimide (MeMI) as well as other N-alkylmaleimides (RMI) and isobutene (IB) was carried out with 2,2′-azobis(isobutyronitrile) as an initiator at 60°C. The initial rate of the copolymerization (R_p) was dependent on the monomer composition and was maximum at the 40 mol % of MeMI in the feed. A solvent effect on the R_p and the monomer reactivity ratio was observed in this copolymerization system, i.e., copolymerization in chloroform produced a higher R_p and an alternating tendency compared with those in dioxane (r_MeMI = 0.14, r_1B = 0 in chloroform and r_MeMI = 0.47, r_1B = 0 in dioxane). The alternating copolymer of RMI and IB shows a high glass transition temperature (T_g) and excellent thermal stability, e.g., the T_g and the thermal decomposition temperature (T_d) were 152 and 363°C, respectively, for the alternating copolymer of MeMI and IB. Both the T_g and T_d increased as the concentration of the MeMI unit in the copolymers increased. Colorless transparent sheets were obtained from press molding the alternating copolymers. They showed excellent mechanical and optical properties. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Breadth of glass transition temperature in styrene/acrylic acid block,random, and gradient copolymers: Unusual sequence distribution effects

Block, random, and gradient copolymers of styrene (S) and acrylic acid (AA) are synthesized by conventional or controlled radical polymerization, and their glass transition temperature (T_g) behaviors are compared. The location and breadth of the T_gs are determined using derivatives of differential scanning calorimetry heating curves. Each S/AA random copolymer exhibits one narrow T_g, consistent with a single phase of limited compositional nanoheterogeneity. Block copolymers exhibit two narrow T_gs originating from nanophase separation into ordered domains with nearly pure S or nearly pure AA repeat units. Each gradient copolymer exhibits a T_g response with a ～50–56 °C breadth that extends beyond the upper T_g of the block copolymers. For copolymers of similar composition, the maximum value in the gradient copolymer T_g response is consistent with that of a random copolymer, which has an enhanced T_g relative to poly(acrylic acid) due to more effective hydrogen bonding when AA units are separated along the chain backbone by S units. These results indicate that gradient copolymers with ordered nanostructures can be rationally designed, which exhibit broad glass transitions that extend to higher temperature than the T_gs observed with block copolymers. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 45: 2842–2849, 2007     

Thermal diffusion and molecular weight calibration of poly(ethylene-co-vinyl acetate)s by thermal field-flow fractionation

Copolymer characterization is accomplished with respect to measurement of thermal diffusion coefficient (D_T) and molecular weight determination by thermal field-flow fractionation. The examined copolymers are the eight poly(ethylene-co-vinyl acetate)s [P(E-V)] having different compositions of vinyl acetate ranging from 25 to 70% and the molecular weight from 110,000 to 285,000, and three polyvinyl acetate standards as component homopolymer. The carrier solvents are tetrahydrofuran, toluene, and chlorobenzene which have different viscosities and thermal conductivities. Measured D_T values vary from 1.36 × 10^?8 to 5.97 × 10_?8 cm²/(s . K) which are dependent on the composition of copolymers and types of carriers. These values increase linearly with the increase of weight percent of vinyl acetate. It is possible to estimate D_T values of polyethylene from the extrapolated intercept in the plots of D_T vs. vinyl acetate wt % of copolymer. Tetrahydrofuran is found to be the appropriate carrier solvent for the separation of P(E-V) copolymers since D_T varies greatly with the increase of wt % in THF. Attempts are made to correlate the measured retention data with molecular sizes of copolymers for the construction of the molecular weight calibration curve. Good correlations (r² ≥ 0.931) are found in which D/D_T values of polymers vary inversely with the product of hydrodynamic volume by weight ratio of vinyl acetate. Based on this relationship, the unknown molecular weight of copolymer sample can be determined from component homopolymers for which standards are readily available. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Synthesis and characterization of block and random POSS/fluorinated PAES tricopolymers

Block and random polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS)/fluorinated poly aryl ether sulfone tricopolymers were synthesized using different synthetic strategies to investigate the effect of sequence distribution on their thermal, dielectric, and surface properties. Analyses indicated that all block and random copolymers showed similar growth tendency of water contact angles and T_g values, downward tendency of k values with increased content of POSS. The block copolymer displayed higher T_g values up to 187°C than random copolymers (173°C) under the same POSS molar percentage, which were highly related to their different sequence distribution. The dielectric constants of the tricopolymers were drastically reduced because of the presence of POSS and fluorine, and the dielectric constant could achieve as low as 2.71 (1 MHz). Besides, sequence distribution has no obvious influence on its surface properties and properties. Meanwhile, the yields of degradation residues of the tricopolymers were significantly improved by the ceramic formation from POSS moieties during thermal decomposition. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Theoretical and Predictive Modelling of Physical Properties of Polymers

The application of Boltzmann statistics to a complete distribution of molecular conformation energies of simplified homo‐ and copolymer models gives meaningful information about temperatures at which phase transitions take place in the bulk. We have calculated in the conformation statistical distribution (CSD) approximation Helmholtz free energy variation versus temperature δF = δU–TδS, where U and S are, respectively, the internal molecular energy and the Gibbs statistical entropy of the considered polymeric model. The deepest minima correspond to glass‐transition temperature (T_g) and melting temperature (T_m) of modelled polymers, while the remaining peaks are related to some other transitions, the existence of which is also experimentally proven. The adopted method is able to give T_g and T_m as a function of the molecular weight of polymers. Some indications can also be achieved about the instability of polymers. The same procedure has been applied to copolymers and blends and has given acceptable results for T_g and T_m as functions of the material microstructure and composition. Other thermal and mechanical properties, such as moduli, mobilities, chemical resistance to oxidation, physical tendency to miscibility, have been directly or indirectly estimated.     

Comparative study of the phase behavior of liquid-crystalline components in closely related blends and copolyesters

Phase behavior of blends of a liquid-crystalline (LC) polymer with a non-LC polymer and of a series of copolymers containing mesogenic and nonmesogenic units was studied by thermal, optical, and dynamic mechanical methods. The polymers composing the blends and the copolymers had the same constituent monomers. The blends exhibited phase separation over the whole range of compositions studied as observed by DSC and dynamic mechanical analysis. Two glass transition temperatures (T_g) corresponding to the two components and independence of melting (T_m) and isotropization temperatures (T_i) to changes in composition were observed for the blends. The copolymers did not show phase separation over most of the composition range studied. Only one T_g corresponding to that of the major component could be detected for the copolymers, and the T_g was found to increase with an increase in the amount of nonmesogenic monomer in the copolymers. The difference in phase behavior was explained on the basis of the chemical environment of the constituent units in the blends and in copolymers. Phase inversion in the blends was observed by microscopy when the blends contained 60 mol% or more of the non-LC polymer.     

Synthesis of novel cyclic olefin polymers with excellent transparency and high glass‐transition temperature via gradient copolymerization of bulky cyclic olefin and cis‐cyclooctene

Novel cyclic olefin polymers (COPs) with excellent transparency and high glass‐transition temperature (T_g) synthesized from bulky norbornene derivative, exo‐1,4,4a,9,9a,10‐hexahydro‐9,10(1',2')‐benzeno‐l,4‐methanoanthracene (HBMN), and cis‐cyclooctene (COE) by ring‐opening metathesis copolymerization utilizing the “first‐generation Grubbs” catalyst, RuCl₂(PCy₃)₂(CHPh), and subsequent hydrogenation was reported herein. To get amorphous copolymers, it was of great importance to control the feed ratios and the polymerization time for gradient copolymerization. All these copolymers showed very high T_gs (141.1–201.2 °C), which varied with the content of HBMN. The films of the gradient copolymers with only one T_g were highly transparent. On the contrary, all the block copolymers synthesized through sequential addition showed two thermal transition temperatures, T_g and melt temperature (T_m), and the films of these block copolymers were opaque. The mechanical performances of the COPs were also investigated. It is the first report that transparent COP could be prepared from bulky norbornene derivative and monocyclic olefin. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2014 , 52, 3240–3249     

Poly(butylene terephthalate‐co‐5‐tert‐butyl isophthalate) copolyesters: Synthesis,characterization, and properties

A series of poly(butylene terephthalate) copolyesters containing 5‐tert‐butyl isophthalate units up to 50 mol %, as well as the homopolyester entirely made of these units, were prepared by polycondensation from a melt. The microstructure of the copolymers was determined by NMR to be random for the whole range of compositions. The effect exerted by the 5‐tert‐butyl isophthalate units on thermal, tensile, and gas transport properties was evaluated. Both the melting temperature (T_m) and crystallinity were found to decrease steadily with copolymerization, whereas the glass‐transition temperature (T_g) increased and the polyesters became more brittle. Permeability and solubility slightly increased with the content in substituted isophthalic units, whereas the diffusion coefficient remained practically constant. For the homopolyester poly(5‐tert‐butyl isophthalate), all these properties were found to deviate significantly from the general trend displayed by copolyesters, suggesting that a different structure in the solid state is likely adopted in this case. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 43: 92–100, 2005     

Synthesis and polymerization of fluorinated monomers bearing a reactive lateral group. XIV. Radical copolymerization of vinylidene fluoride with methyl 1,1‐dihydro‐4,7‐dioxaperfluoro‐5,8‐dimethyl non‐1‐enoate

The radical copolymerization in solution of vinylidene fluoride (VDF; or 1,1‐difluoroethylene) with methyl 1,1‐dihydro‐4,7‐dioxaperfluoro‐5,8‐dimethyl non‐1‐enoate (MDP) initiated by di‐tert‐butyl peroxide is presented. Six copolymerization reactions were investigated with initial [VDF]₀/[MDP]₀ molar ratios of 35/65 to 80/20. Both of these comonomers copolymerized in this range of copolymerization. Moreover, these comonomers homopolymerized separately under these conditions. The copolymer compositions of these random copolymers were calculated by means of ¹⁹F NMR spectroscopy, which allowed the quantification of the respective amounts of each monomeric unit in the copolymers. The Tidwell–Mortimer method was used for the assessment of the reactivity ratios (r_i) of both comonomers, which showed a higher incorporation of MDP in the copolymers (r_MDP = 2.41 ± 2.28 and r_VDF = 0.38 ± 0.21 at 120 °C). The Alfrey–Price Q and e values of the trifluoroallyl monomer MDP were calculated to be 0.024 (from Q_VDF = 0.008) or 0.046 (from Q_VDF = 0.015) and 0.70 (vs e_VDF = 0.40) or 0.80 (vs e_VDF = 0.50), respectively, indicating that MDP was an electron‐accepting monomer. The thermal properties of these fluorinated copolymers were also determined. Except for those containing a high amount of VDF, the copolymers were amorphous. Each showed one glass‐transition temperature (T_g) only, and with known laws of T_g's, T_g of the MDP homopolymer was assessed. It was compared to that obtained from the direct radical homopolymerization of MDP and discussed. Indeed, these two values were close (T_g = ?3 °C). Thermogravimetric analyses were performed, and they showed that the copolymers were rather thermostable because the thermal degradation occurred at 280 °C. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 41: 3109–3121, 2003     

Synthesis and properties of new block copolymers based on polydimethylsiloxane and tetraphenylethylene-containing polyimide

New polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS)-polyimide block copolymers were synthesized by the solution polycondensation of aminopropyl-terminated polydimethylsiloxane, 1,1-bis(4-aminophenyl)-2,2-diphenylethylene, and 3,3′,4,4′-benzophenonetetracarboxylic dithioanhydride in pyridine. New 1,3-bis(3-aminopropyl)tetramethyldisiloxane (BADS)-based random copolyimides were also prepared. The inherent viscosities of all the random and block copolyimides were in the range of 0.13–0.90 dL/g in N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone. These copolymers were soluble in N,N-dimethylacetamide, N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone, and m-cresol. All the BADS-based random copolymers and PDMS-containing copolymers with PDMS content above 42 wt % were soluble in tetrahydrofuran and chloroform. Transparent or somewhat cpaque films were prepared by casting from the reaction solutions. The BADS-based random copolyimides had one glass transition temperature (T_g) in the whole composition ranges, which showed single phase nature of the copolymers. On the other hand, the PDMS-polyimide block copolymers had double T_gS, indicating phase-separated morphology. The block copolymers containing PDMS content above 73 wt % behaved like a high temperature elastomer. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Thermal and optical properties of highly fluorinated copolymers of methacrylates

Copolymers of pentafluorophenylhexafluoroisopropyl methacrylate (FPPMA) with trifluoroethyl methacrylate (TFEMA) were prepared in THF solution and in bulk using azobisisobutyronitrile as a free radical initiator. The monomer reactivity ratios of TFEMA (M₁) and FPPMA (M₂) were calculated as r₁ = 0.55 and r₂ = 0.07. The refractive indices of poly(TFEMA) and poly(FPPMA) are very similar as 1.435 and 1.430, respectively, at 532 nm, and the copolymer films were transparent. The glass transition temperatures (T_g) of the copolymers were in the range of 80–90°C and showed a negative deviation from the Gordon–Taylor equation. The thermal decomposition temperature (T_d) was increased with the content of FPPMA in copolymers. Low water absorption for 1:1 FPPMA/TFEMA copolymer was detected. Copolymers of FPPMA with hexafluoroisopropyl methacrylate (HFPMA) were also prepared. The monomer reactivity ratios of HFPMA (M₁) and FPPMA (M₂) were calculated as r₁ = 0.43 and r₂ = 0.10. The T_gs of the copolymers were in the range of 88–95°C and showed also a negative deviation from the Gordon–Taylor equation. T_g and T_d of the copolymers were increased with the content of FPPMA. The refractive index of poly(HFPMA) (1.384 at 532 nm) is much lower than that of FPPMA homopolymer, but copolymer films obtained were clear and transparent. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Characterization of thermal diffusion in polymer solutions by thermal field-flow fractionation: Dependence on polymer and solvent parameters

The thermal diffusion coefficient D_T has been obtained for 17 polymer-solvent combinations, each of them spanning a range of polymer molecular weights, using thermal field-flow fractionation. The polymers examined include polystyrene, poly(alpha-methyl)styrene, polymethylmethacrylate, and polysioprene. The solvents include benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, tetrahydrofuran, methylethylketone, ethylacetate, and cyclohexane. Although D_T was confirmed as essentially independent of polymer molecular weight, it was found to vary substantially with the chemical composition of polymer and solvent. The results were used to evaluate several thermal diffusion theories; the agreement with theory was generally found to be unsatisfactory. Attempts were then made to correlate the measured thermal diffusion coefficients with various physicochemical parameters of the polymers and solvent. A good correlation was found in which D_T increases with the thermal conductivity difference of the polymer and solvent and varies inversely with the activation energy of viscous flow of the solvent.     

Synthesis and characterization of maleimide polymers with pendant pyrazole groups. IV. Copolymerization of pyrazole-modified maleimides with vinyl ethers

The synthesis of maleimides that have pyrazolic or bipyrazolic pendant groups is described. Their homopolymerization and their copolymerization with 2-chloroethyl vinyl ether (CEVE) is reported. The homopolymerizations of such maleimides were performed under various conditions and led to low molecular-weight polymers. However, alternating copolymers were obtained from CEVE as comonomers whatever the monomers feed compositions. A similar behavior was also observed for maleimides that do not exhibit any spacer, whereas for bulky vinyl ethers, random copolymers were produced. A comparison of the thermal behavior between these copolymers (glass transition temperatures, T_g, and decomposition temperatures) and other copolymers having different spacers between the nitrogenated cycles and the chain are related. Thus, an important decrease of T_g, was observed when C₃H₆CO₂CH₂ groups were used as the spacer instead of methylene groups. Moreover, the thermal weakness of these copolymers may come from the substituents of the vinyl ether and is discussed. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Fractionation of Poly(butyl methacrylate) by Molecular Topology Using Multidetector Thermal Field‐Flow Fractionation

Thermal field‐flow fractionation (ThFFF) is an interesting alternative to column‐based fractionation being able to address different molecular parameters including size and composition. Until today it has not been shown to be able to fractionate polymers of similar molar masses and chemical compositions by molecular topology. The present study demonstrates that poly(butyl methacrylates) with identical molar masses can be fractionated by ThFFF according to the topology of the butyl group. The influence of the solvent polarity on the thermal diffusion behavior of these polymers is presented and it is shown to have a significant influence on the fractionation of poly(n‐butyl methacrylate) and poly(t‐butyl methacrylate). Fractionation improves with increasing solvent polarity and solvent polarity may have a greater influence on fractionation than solvent viscosity. It is found that the thermal diffusion coefficient, D_T, as well as the hydrodynamic diameter, D_h, exhibit increasing trends with increasing solvent polarity. The solvent quality has a significant influence on the fractionation. It is found that cyclohexane, being a theta solvent for poly(t‐butyl methacrylate) but not for poly(n‐butyl methacrylate), significantly improves the fractionation of the samples by decreasing the diffusion rate of the former but not the latter.

     

The hard-sphere model for linear and regular star polybutadienes

The dilute solution properties of linear, 18-arm, and 270-arm star polybutadienes have been studied in a theta solvent and in a good solvent. Values of the radius of gyration R_G, the second virial coefficient A₂, the intrinsic viscosity [η], and the diffusion coefficient D₀ have been measured for each polymer. The ratios R_T/R_G, R_V/R_G, and R_H/R_G for each type of polymer are used to compare the four dilute solution properties. R_T is termed the “thermodynamic radius.” It is the radius of the hard sphere with the same excluded volume as the polymer coil. R_T is calculated from A₂ by R_T = (3A₂M₂/16ηN_A)^1/3. R_V and R_H are equivalent hard spheres defined for the intrinsic viscosity and translational diffusion coefficient, respectively. R_T/R_G, R_V/R_G, and R_H/R_G increase from about 0.7 for linear polymer coils as the number of arms in the star increases. Values of the ratios for the 18-arm stars are less than the value for the hard-sphere, but the values of the ratios of the 270-arm stars are equal to the hard-sphere limit within experimental error.     

Thermal properties of poly(methyl methacrylate-co-butyl acrylate-co-acrylic acid) modified with divinyl benzene and vinyltrimethoxysilane

The effect of butyl acrylate (BA), divinyl benzene (DVB) and vinyltrimethoxysilane (TMVS) on the thermal properties of poly(methyl methacrylate-co-butyl acrylate-co-acrylic acid) was investigated. Glass transition temperature (T_g), melting temperature (T_m) and specific heat capacity of the copolymers were investigated using Differential Scanning Calorimetry. Thermal stability of the copolymers which is associated with the degradation temperature (T_d) was studied by Thermogravimetric Analysis. Polyacrylates with T_g ranges between -19°Cand 19°C were obtained. With the incorporation of >7 wt% of DVB, the T_g of the copolymer increases from about ?17°C to ?10°C even though they have not undergone UV irradiation. Gel content results prove that crosslinking has occurred in the copolymers. With increasing amount of TMVS from 0 wt% to 7 wt%, the T_m of the copolymers prepared at acidic pH is about 40-60°C higher than that at the alkaline pH. However, the addition of TMVS gives no significant effect to the T_g and T_d of the copolymer films. The thermal stability of the copolymer has improved with increasing amount of BA and DVB, with DVB being more effective. The highest T_d of 425°C with 8% of DVB has been obtained. Consequently, a polyacrylate copolymer with a T_g of about ?13°C, a T_m of 170 °C and a T_d of about 424°C has been successfully synthesized. Hence, the soft polyacrylate with its relatively high T_m and T_d could serve as a superb material especially to be applied in the areas that require high melting temperature and good thermal stability.     

Diffusion with discontinuous swelling. V. Type II diffusion into sheets and spheres

Type II diffusion into uniform spheres (radius R) and sheets (thickness 2l) is calculated under the assumption that the glass-gel boundary proceeds at a constant velocity v from the surface towards the interior of the sample, that the diffusion coefficient D_g in the glass is constant and that the diffusion coefficient D_r of the rubbery gel is so much higher than vR or vl that practically no sorbate gradient is needed for the transport through the gel of the sorbate. The diffusion process is completed when this boundary reaches the center of the sample. The concentration profile of the sorbate in the glassy matrix in front of the boundary varies with time and velocity v. It does not, however, influence the boundary propagation velocity. Hence the often observed increase of the rate of the weight gain just at the end of the diffusion process is not considered at all. The relative weight gain of the sample W(t)/W_∞ as a function of time is the only quantity usually measured. From the ordinate intercept A and the initial slope B of the plot of W(t)/t^1/2W_∞ vs. t^1/2, one can calculate the characteristic transport properties, i.e., the diffusion coefficient D_g of the glass and the velocity v of the glass–gel boundary.