Molecular liquids Terms Links

The sorption coefficient (K) in Equation (2.84) is the term linking the concentration of a component in the fluid phase with its concentration in the membrane polymer phase. Because sorption is an equilibrium term, conventional thermodynamics can be used to calculate solubilities of gases in polymers to within a factor of two or three. However, diffusion coefficients (D) are kinetic terms that reflect the effect of the surrounding environment on the molecular motion of permeating components. Calculation of diffusion coefficients in liquids and gases is possible, but calculation of diffusion coefficients in polymers is much more difficult. In the long term, the best hope for accurate predictions of diffusion in polymers is the molecular dynamics calculations described in an earlier section. However, this technique is still under development and is currently limited to calculations of the diffusion of small gas molecules in amorphous polymers the... 

Macroporous and isoporous polystyrene supports have been used for onium ion catalysts in attempts to overcome intraparticle diffusional limitations on catalyst activity. A macroporous polymer may be defined as one which retains significant porosity in the dry state68-71 . The terms macroporous and macroreticular are synonomous in this review. Macroreticular is the term used by the Rohm and Haas Company to describe macroporous ion exchange resins and adsorbents 108). The terms microporous and gel have been used for cross-linked polymers which have no macropores. Both terms can be confusing. The micropores are the solvent-filled spaces between polymer chains in a swollen network. They have dimensions of one or a few molecular diameters. When swollen by solvent a macroporous polymer has both solvent-filled macropores and micropores created by the solvent within the network. A gel is defined as a solvent-swollen polymer network. It is a macroscopic solid, since it does not flow, and a microscopic liquid, since the solvent molecules and polymer chains are mobile within the network. Thus a solvent-swollen macroporous polymer is also microporous and is a gel. Non-macroporous is a better term for the polymers usually called microporous or gels. A sample of 200/400 mesh spherical non-macroporous polystyrene beads has a surface area of about 0.1 m2/g. Macroporous polystyrenes can have surface areas up to 1000 m2/g. 

The layman s term for the time/lemperature related molecular cross-linking process - known more correctly as polymerisation - which occurs when a thermoset resin changes from the typically viscous liquid to the solid state. This cure process is normally also promoted following chemical activation by a catalyst - or often called, hardener -addition. Other chemical accelerators may be added by the resin manufacturer, or alternatively added to the resin immediately prior to the catalyst addition. Cure can also be activated in other ways, such as by the influence of ultra-violet radiation. No by-products are formed during the formation of these long molecular cross-linked chain links. 

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