DIFFUSION AND SOLUTION OF GASES INTO THERMALLY SOFTENED OR MOLTEN POLYMERS .2. RELATION OF DIFFUSIVITIES AND SOLUBILITIES WITH TEMPERATURE PRESSURE AND STRUCTURAL CHARACTERISTICS

Solubilities and diffusivities of various gases (helium, nitrogen, carbon dioxide, argon, neon, krypton, and monochlorodifluoromethane) in molten or thermally softened polymers (polyethylene, polypropylene, polyisobutylene, polystyrene, and polymethylmethacrylate) have been correlated with structural characteristics, temperature, and pressure. Temperature dependence of both Henry's Law constants and diffusivities were of the Arrhenius equation form. No appreciable effect of pressure was found for either Henry's Law constants or diffusivities up to 300 atm. Earlier correlations for Henry's Law constants in solid polymer systems were found to be inapplicable for molten and thermally softened polymers. New correlations were developed individually for the latter systems. The correlating factor used was the gas Lennard‐Jones force constant. Existing correlations for diffusivities were also found not to apply to molten and thermally softened systems. New correlations were again developed on an individual polymer basis. These related diffusivity to gas Lennard‐Jones collision diameter or molecular diameter. Generalized correlations were also developed that held for a number of polymers. These were for both Henry's Law constants and diffusivities. Copyright © 1969 American Institute of Chemical Engineers