Effect of the third acrylated vinyl comonomer on absorption and desorptionproperties of styrene-divinyl benzene-alkyl acrylate terpolymers, imbibingsolvent on a water surface

A series of imbiber terpolymer beads was prepared by radical suspension cop olymerization of styrene-divinylbenzene with varied contents of acrylated v inyl monomers, n-butyl acrylate and 2-ethyl hexyl acrylate, as the third co monomer. A DVB content of 6 wt % and a mixture of 60/40 wt % toluene/n-hept ane as the diluent were used throughout this study. The influence of acryla ted vinyl comonomers on bead properties and swelling properties was investi gated. The imbiber beads are capable of absorption and desorption of organi c solvents having solubility parameters in the range of 14.9-20.9 (MPa)(1/2 ). Styrenic imbiber beads were swelled in a toluene/n-heptane mixture of 50 % by volume and the kinetics of absorption was studied. The imbiber beads c ould absorb the toluene/n-heptane mixture completely within 20 min and yiel ded a maximum swelling ratio of 6.8. The diffusion coefficient values of th ese beads mere in the range of 6.40 x 10(-6) to 1.52 x 10(-5) cm(2) s(-1). (C) 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.