STRUCTURE OF SOME STYRENE-DIVINYLBENZENE COPOLYMERS

Structures of copolymers of styrene and divinylbenzene (50% crosslinki ng degree) prepared in suspension polymerization in the presence of mi xtures of nonsol (heptane or decane) and sol (toluene or tetralin) dil uents were investigated. The studies showed that the diluents enriched with nonsol solvents resulted in an increase of pore volumes and poro sities for the prepared copolymers. The sol diluents affected mainly t he gel regions of the polymer matrices. Isotropic swelling of the matr ices prepared in the presence of toluene is the opposite of the effect observed for tetralin family copolymers. The virtual difference of bo th bind of matrices was demonstrated in the sorption of phenol. The te tralin family copolymers were characterized by a prolonged time for co lumn breakthrough. (C) 1995 John Wiley and Sons, Inc.