Effects of time, temperature, and pressure in the vicinity of the glass transition of a swollen polymer

Wojciech Ogieglo, Lakshmeesha Upadhyaya, Matthias Wessling, Arian Nijmeijer, Nieck E. Benes*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

14 Citations (Scopus)
47 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

In-situ spectroscopic ellipsometry is used for the dynamic study of thermally perturbed thin polystyrene films, swollen with n-octane or n-decane. The thermal evolution of the swollen films reveals pronounced changes both in equilibrium and kinetic properties. Upon vitrification, a kinetically arrested swollen matrix isobserved. This phenomenon is related to the excess energy term in the chemical potential of the solvent, associated with the non-equilibrium status of the swollen polymer matrix. The swollen polystyrene – n-decane system shows no measurable compression when exposed to hydrostatic pressures up to 50 bar, neither above or below the glass transition temperature. A slight compression is observed for a glassy polystyrene film in pressurized water. This compression corresponds to partial relaxation of excess free volume. The results are of importance for membrane applications in which penetrant-swollen polymer membrane layers are operated under high pressures.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)80-85
JournalJournal of membrane science
Volume464
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2014

Keywords

  • 2023 OA procedure

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