Thermodynamic interactions of three SBS (styrene-butadiene-styrene) triblock copolymers with different solvents, by means of intrinsic viscosity measurements

The Hansen Solubility Parameter (HSP) and the Flory Huggins polymer-solvent interaction parameter of three SBS (styrene-butadiene-styrene triblock copolymer) rubbers have been determined by using intrinsic viscosity (IV) measurements. The obtained values indicated that, although all the tested compounds could be adequate as solvents, the aromatic ones are the most compatible for this kind of polymers. From these previous data, the activity coefficients of the solvent were also obtained and fitted to NRTL model. The calculated interaction parameters have a great importance in order to model, for example, the separation steps in the process of obtaining the rubber.