Effect of the third acrylated vinyl comonomer on absorption and desorption properties of styrene-divinylbenzene-alkyl acrylate terpolymers, imbibing solvent on a water surface

Abstract

A series of imbiber terpolymer beads was prepared by radical suspension copolymerization of styrene–divinylbenzene with varied contents of acrylated vinyl monomers, n-butyl acrylate and 2-ethyl hexyl acrylate, as the third comonomer. A DVB content of 6 wt % and a mixture of 60/40 wt % toluene/n-heptane as the diluent were used throughout this study. The influence of acrylated vinyl comonomers on bead properties and swelling properties was investigated. The imbiber beads are capable of absorption and desorption of organic solvents having solubility parameters in the range of 14.9–20.9 (MPa)1/2. Styrenic imbiber beads were swelled in a toluene/n-heptane mixture of 50% by volume and the kinetics of absorption was studied. The imbiber beads could absorb the toluene/n-heptane mixture completely within 20 min and yielded a maximum swelling ratio of 6.8. The diffusion coefficient values of these beads were in the range of 6.40 × 10−6 to 1.52 × 10−5 cm2 s−1. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 79: 504–516, 2001