Characterization of poly(vinyl methyl ketone) using the inverse gas chromatography method

The inverse gas chromatography method was applied to the semicrystalline polymer poly(vinyl methyl ketone) (PVMK). The method was able to provide valuable information on the thermodynamic and surface properties of PVMK. Thirteen solutes with different chemical properties were used. They provided information on the type and strength of the polymer-solute interactions which were attributed to the melting behavior of PVMK. The melting temperature of PVMK was detected with precision using solutes that interacted strongly with PVMK. The interaction parameters chi(12) of PVMK-alkanes over the temperature range 70-180 degrees C were obtained and were shown to be independent of temperature and number of carbons in the alkane series. The dispersive contribution of the surface energy of PVMK was measured as a function of temperature. The values ranged between 29.00 and 18.00mJ/m(2). The molar heat of sorption and the molar free energy of adsorption were calculated.