POLY(ETHYLENE-CO-METHYL ACRYLATE) SOLVENT COSOLVENT PHASE-BEHAVIOR AT HIGH-PRESSURES

Cloud-point data to 160-degrees-C and 2000 bar are presented showing the effect of cosolvents on the phase behaviour of poly(ethylene-co-methyl acrylate) (EMA) (64 mol%/36 mol%) with propane and chlorodifluoromethane (F22). Ethanol shifts the EMA-propane cloud-point curves to lower temperatures and pressures, but above approximately 10 wt% ethanol, the copolymer becomes insoluble. Up to 40 wt% acetone monotonically shifts the EMA-propane cloud-point curves to lower temperatures and pressures. Acetone and ethanol both shift the cloud-point curves of EMA-F22 mixtures in the same monotonic manner for cosolvent concentrations of up to 40 wt%.