Thermodynamic interactions in rubbery polymer/gas systems

Abstract

The Flory–Huggins interaction parameters χ for 23 gases (He, Ne, Ar, Kr, Xe, H2, N2, O2, N2O, CO2, CH4, C2H4, C2H6, C3H6, C3H8, 1,3-C4H6, four C4H8's, n-C4H10, iso-C4H10, and n-C5H12) in five rubbery polymers (1,2-polybutadiene (PB), poly(ethylene-co-vinyl acetate)) (EVAc), polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), and poly(dimethyl siloxane) (PDMS) were determined from either literature data on Henry's law coefficient and partial molar volume or those on sorptive dilation for each polymer/gas system. Values of χ for the gases increased in the order of PDMS < PP ≡ PB < EVAc ≡ PE. Among the gases except He and H2 whose χ values are not reliable, Ne and Xe have respectively the highest and the lowest values of χ for the polyolefins. The χ values of the hydrocarbons were compared together with previously reported χ values of n-alkanes C3-C10. The dependencies of χ upon concentration and temperature were discussed on the basis of the literature data. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys 35: 1049–1053, 1997