DIFFUSION OF LIQUIDS INTO SEMICRYSTALLINE POLYETHYLENE

Pulsed field gradient (PFG) nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and micro imaging experiments have been performed to study the diffusion of liqu id alkanes into a variety of semicrystalline polyethylene (PE) samples . The results highlight the importance of the crystalline phase in con trolling the diffusion process in terms of both the geometric impedanc e imposed by the presence of impenetrable crystals and their effect on the mobility of the polymer chains comprising the amorphous material through which the penetrants migrate. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Inc.