Polymers – Solvent Swelling and Interactions
Polymers are often categorized by their stability and functionality, which are designed to maximize their performance. The ability to measure and quantify performance is essential in optimizing formulations and furthering development.
Polymer surfaces are inherently heterogeneous due to varying topography, contamination from organics, and unpolymerized monomers. These macromolecules are likely to interact with liquids via surface interaction (adsorption) and with the bulk of the polymer (absorption). Solvents and moisture can penetrate a polymer matrix often causing them to swell, vastly altering its surface area to volume ratio. Changes to the surface of a polymer can drastically change its surface area, surface energy, and overall activity.
Polymers and Packaging
Determining the diffusion rate of solvent molecules through a polymer is vital in polymer processing, analysis, and performance. Another characterization that can be studied is the solubility parameter which is directly related to the cohesive energy density of a material. The diffusion rate and solubility parameters of polymers can be measured rapidly and accurately using Inverse Gas Chromatography at any solute vapor concentration.
Notes:
Application Note 206: Determination of the Dispersive Surface Energy of Paracetamol by Pulse Inverse Gas Chromatography at Infinite Dilution | Request a copy
Application Note 218: The Determination of the Hildebrandt Solubility Parameter of Polymethyl Methacrylate by Infinite Dilution Inverse Gas Chromatography | Request a copy
Food and Natural Materials
Solubility parameters are directly related to the cohesive energy density of a material and are a measure of the strength of interaction between molecules and atoms; therefore, they can be used to predict the stability of food ingredients. Inverse Gas Chromatography provides a fast and sensitive route for the measurement of this parameter.
Notes:
Application Note 205: The Determination of the Solubility Parameter of Different Starch Types by Infinite Dilution Inverse Gas Chromatography | Request a copy
Application Note 503: TWater Vapor Induced Mesoporous Structure Collapse Observed by GenRH with Mcell and FT-IR | Request a copy
