Abstract
Poly(vinyl acetate) (PVAc) is an inexpensive, high-tonnage bulk commodity polymer which, unlike most vinyl polymers, is moderately biodegradable. PVAc has been shown to exhibit anomalously high solubility in CO2 with respect to other vinyl hydrocarbon polymers. Understanding the phase behavior of PVAc in CO2 and its variation with structure is very important for its potential application as suitable surfactant, ligand, or phase transfer agent in a CO2 solvent process. In this article, PVAc has been fractionated using a supercritical fluid extraction method (SCFE) to provide low molecular weight fractions with narrow polydispersity. The phase behavior of hydroxyl terminated poly(vinyl acetate)s (PVAc-OH) were determined by a high throughput gravimetric extraction (HTGE) screening method and a cloud-point pressure method using a variable volume view cell (VVVC). The solubility of PVAc in CO2 strongly depends on the molecular weight. Oligomer PVAc-OH (Mw < 3000 g·mol−1) is soluble in CO2 at low pressures but decreases in solubility with increasing molecular weight. End-group modification of oligomer PVAc-OH alters the phase behavior of the oligomers.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
