Rapid determination of crosslink densities and interaction parameters from swelling rate data

✍ Scribed by Schreiber, H. P. ;Holden, H. W. ;Barna, G.

• Book ID: 105340649
• Publisher: Wiley (John Wiley & Sons)
• Year: 2007
• Weight: 527 KB
• Volume: 30
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0449-2994
• DOI: 10.1002/polc.5070300151

✦ Synopsis

Abstract

Gravimetric determinations of weight gain were carried out for ethylene‐propylene elstomer (EPR) samples crosslinked by dicumyl peroxide and immersed for periods up to IS minutes in various swelling solvents. The weight gain data were analyzed on the assumed existence of a power‐law relationship with immersion time as well as the more usual assumption that the swelling rate is diffusion‐controlled. The former analysis led to strong correlations between initial swelling rates and the Flory‐Huggins interaction parameter of a polymer‐solvent pair. The latter analysis correlated initial uptake rates with crosslink densities obtained from equilibrium swelling results. Initial uptake rates were used to estimate the interaction parameter for the system EPR‐tetrahydronaphthalene, and to measure the effect of rutile and carbon black filler on the cross‐linking process. Rutile behaved as an inert filler, but results for carbon black proved anomalous, indicating need for further study.