SORPTION AND DIFFUSION OF WATER AND ORGANIC-SOLVENTS IN POLY(BETA-HYDROXYBUTYRATE) FILMS

The diffusion and solubility of water and organic compounds in poly(be ta-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) at room temperature has been investigated. I t was shown that the supermolecular structure of PHB films affects sor ption of water and the thermostability of specimens. Analysis of the s olubility of low molecular compounds in PHB was based on the thermodyn amics of the regular solution. Correlation between solubility of compo unds in PHB and the parameters of solubility was observed. A dependenc e of the diffusion coefficient D on the solvent concentration in the p olymeric matrix was found.