Solvent diffusion in amorphous polymers: Polystyrene-solvent systems

The inverse gas chromatography (IGC) technique was used to obtain the parti tion and diffusion coefficients of solvents in polystyrene over a wide rang e of temperatures. Infinite dilution experiments were performed with three solvents: toluene, benzene, and hexane. Finite concentration data were meas ured for the polystyrene-toluene system at various concentrations from 110 to 180 degrees C. For the finite concentration region, the modified capilla ry column model used by Tihminlioglu and Danner (J Chromatogr A 1999, 845, 93-101) was used to calculate diffusion and thermodynamic data. Finite conc entration thermodynamic data were also calculated with the retention theory approach and compared with the capillary column model. The experimental IG C results are in good agreement with data from other experimental technique s. (C) 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.