Poly diffusion

The sedimentation and diffusion coefficients for three different preparations of poly(methyl methacrylate) were measuredf in /i-butyl chloride at 35.6 C (= 0) and in acetone at 20 C (> 0) and the following results were obtained ... 

Fig. 37. Diffusion coefficient as a function of molar volume for a variety of permeants in natural mbber and in poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) (81—83).

Bulk Polymerization. This is the method of choice for the manufacture of poly(methyl methacrylate) sheets, rods, and tubes, and molding and extmsion compounds. In methyl methacrylate bulk polymerization, an auto acceleration is observed beginning at 20—50% conversion. At this point, there is also a corresponding increase in the molecular weight of the polymer formed. This acceleration, which continues up to high conversion, is known as the Trommsdorff effect, and is attributed to the increase in viscosity of the mixture to such an extent that the diffusion rate, and therefore the termination reaction of the growing radicals, is reduced. This reduced termination rate ultimately results in a polymerization rate that is limited only by the diffusion rate of the monomer. Detailed kinetic data on the bulk polymerization of methyl methacrylate can be found in Reference 42. 

Hydroxyhydroquinone and pyrogaHol can be used for lining reactors for vinyl chloride suspension polymerization to prevent formation of polymer deposits on the reactor walls (98). Hydroxyhydroquinone and certain of its derivatives are useful as auxiUary developers for silver haUde emulsions in photographic material their action is based on the dye diffusion-transfer process. The transferred picture has good contrast and stain-free highlights (99). 5-Acylhydroxyhydroquinones are useful as stabilizer components for poly(alkylene oxide)s (100). 

Drying of the poly(vinyl alcohol) is critical to both the color and solubiHty of the final product. Excessive drying temperatures result in high product color and an increase in the crystallinity, which in turn reduces the solubiHty of the product. Drying is initially subjected to a flash regime, where the solvent not contained within the particles is flashed off. This first phase is foUowed by a period where the rate is controUed by the diffusion rate of solvent from the poly(vinyl alcohol) particles. Because the diffusion rate falls as the material dries, complete drying is not practical. The polymer is therefore generally sold at a specification of 95% soHds. 

Fig. 6. Activation energy for diffusion in poly(vinyl chloride) as a function of penetrant mean diameter (19). To convert to cal, divide by 4.184.

Fig. 16. Diffusivities of penetrants in rigid (A) and plasticized ( ) poly(vinyl chloride) versus molecular diameter at 30°C (31).

In practice, 1—10 mol % of catalyst are used most of the time. Regeneration of the catalyst is often possible if deemed necessary. Some authors have advocated systems in which the catalyst is bound to a polymer matrix (triphase-catalysis). Here separation and generation of the catalyst is easy, but swelling, mixing, and diffusion problems are not always easy to solve. Furthermore, triphase-catalyst decomposition is a serious problem unless the active groups are crowns or poly(ethylene glycol)s. Commercial anion exchange resins are not useful as PT catalysts in many cases. 

The alcohol swells the poly (ethyl methacrylate) beads, rapidly promoting diffusion of the plasticizer into the polymer. As a result of the polymer-chain entanglement, a gel is formed. The conditioner is applied to the denture and provides a cushioning effect alcohol and plasticizer are slowly leached out, and the material becomes rigid. To ensure resiliency, the conditioner must be replaced after a few days. Some materials exhibit high flow over a short period compared with others with low initial flow the latter remain active longer. 

Fouling Industrial streams may contain condensable or reactive components which may coat, solvate, fill the free volume, or react with the membrane. Gases compressed by an oil-lubricated compressor may contain oil, or may be at the water dew point. Materials that will coat or harm the membrane must be removed before the gas is treated. Most membranes require removal of compressor oil. The extremely permeable poly(trimethylsilylpropyne) may not become a practical membrane because it loses its permeability rapidly. Part of the problem is pore collapse, but it seems extremely sensitive to contamination even by diffusion pump oil and gaskets [Robeson, op. cit., (1994)]. 

Hard-coated poly(methyl methacrylimide) sun-roofs have already been specified for American sports cars, whilst the polymer might be expected to make some inroads into the polycarbonate market, with one specific target being auto headlamp diffusers. 

As previously mentioned, some urethanes can biodegrade easily by hydrolysis, while others are very resistant to hydrolysis. The purpose of this section is to provide some guidelines to aid the scientist in designing the desired hydrolytic stability of the urethane adhesive. For hydrolysis of a urethane to occur, water must diffuse into the bulk polymer, followed by hydrolysis of the weak link within the urethane adhesive. The two most common sites of attack are the urethane soft segment (polyol) and/or the urethane linkages. Urethanes made from PPG polyols, PTMEG, and poly(butadiene) polyols all have a backbone inherently resistant to hydrolysis. They are usually the first choice for adhesives that will be exposed to moisture. Polyester polyols and polycarbonates may be prone to hydrolytic attack, but this problem can be controlled to some degree by the proper choice of polyol. 

The non-bonded interaction energy, the van-der-Waals and electrostatic part of the interaction Hamiltonian are best determined by parametrizing a molecular liquid that contains the same chemical groups as the polymers against the experimentally measured thermodynamical and dynamical data, e.g., enthalpy of vaporization, diffusion coefficient, or viscosity. The parameters can then be transferred to polymers, as was done in our case, for instance in polystyrene (from benzene) [19] or poly (vinyl alcohol) (from ethanol) [20,21]. 

N. A. Rotstein, T. P. Lodge. Tracer diffusion of linear polystyrenes in poly-(vinyl methyl ether) gels. Macromolecules 25.T 316-1325, 1992. 

For the separation of D,L-leucine, Ding et al. [62] used poly(vinyl alcohol) gel-coated microporous polypropylene hollow fibers (Fig. 5-11). An octanol phase containing the chiral selector (A-n-dodecyl-L-hydroxyproline) is flowing countercur-rently with an aqueous phase. The gel in the pores of the membrane permits diffusion of the leucine molecules, but prevents convection of the aqueous and octanol phase. At a proper selection of the flow ratios it is possible to achieve almost complete resolution of the D,L-leucine (Fig. 5-12). 

Jamieson and McNeill [142] studied the degradation of poIy(vinyI acetate) and poly(vinyI chloride) and compared it with the degradation of PVC/PVAc blend. For the unmixed situation, hydrogen chloride evolution from PVC started at a lower temperature and a faster rate than acetic acid from PVAc. For the blend, acetic acid production began concurrently with dehydrochlorination. But the dehydrochlorination rate maximum occurred earlier than in the previous case indicating that both polymers were destabilized. This is a direct proof of the intermolecular nature of the destabilizing effect of acetate groups on chlorine atoms in PVC. The effects observed by Jamieson and McNeill were explained in terms of acid catalysis. Hydrochloric acid produced in the PVC phase diffused into the PVAc phase to catalyze the loss of acetic acid and vice-versa. 

Karigl [71] defined a format diffusion coefficient for bromine transport through a poly thy lene separator of a zinc-flow battery by considering the separator a diffusion layer. A value of Dsep(Br3 ) = 2.77 10 10 m2 s l was obtained. 

The most possible reason may be in the higher free energy of the protein adsorption on PolyPROPYL A materials. Chemisorbed neutral poly(succinimide) of molecular weight 13000 apparently forms a diffuse interface as predicted by theory (see Sect. 2.2). Controversially, a short polyethyleneimine exists on a surface in a more flat conformation exhibiting almost no excluded volume and producing... 

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