SURFACE AND INTERFACIAL TENSIONS OF POLYMER MELTS .I. POLYETHYLENE, POLYISOBUTYLENE, AND POLYVINYL ACETATE

The surface tensions of polyethylene, polyisobutylene, and polyvinyl acetate, and the interfacial tensions of polyethylene/polyvinyl acetate and polyisobutylene/polyvinyl acetate systems have been measured by the pendent drop method in the temperature range up to 200°C. The results are analyzed in terms of the equations of Fowkes and of Girifalco and Good, and suggest that the conformational restriction of polymer molecules imparts a limitation on the extent of interfacial contacts and sharp phase boundaries in these systems. Several quantities of interest in adhesion, such as contact angle, spreading coefficient, and work of adhesion are also discussed. © 1969.