Vapour sorption studies of polymer‐solution thermodynamics using a piezoelectric quartz crystal microbalance

Abstract

A quartz crystal microbalance was used as the basis of a vapour sorption apparatus to measure thermodynamic interaction parameters of polystyrene, poly(4-chlorostyrene) and poly(methyl methacrylate) with a number of solvents. The apparatus was shown to give rapid and reliable results by comparison with literature results for poly(dimethyl siloxane). Measurements of activity coefficients and Flory-Huggins interaction parameters were correlated with the solution behaviour of the components and revealed some hitherto unreported effects of the solution concentration in polar systems.

Interaction parameters for the uptake of sulfur mustard mimics into polyurethane films

“…While QCM-D gas uptake experiments involving chemical warfare agents and other volatile organic compounds are not novel, QCM-D use has seen limited application in probing fundamental interactions in gas-polymer systems. [5][6][7][8]…”

Vapor-Liquid Equilibrium Measurements of Polymeric Solutions – A Review

“…This is because QCM utilized small fractions of polymer spread in a thin film and therefore, the phase equilibrium can be obtained at fasted speed (Wong et al, 1997). The major disadvantage of this method is that it cannot be used at high solvent vapor pressures and therefore, QCM technique can be applied to only small range of polymer concentrations (French and Koplos, 1999;Price et al, 2006;Wibawa et al, 2002).…”

“…The experimental setup is in many ways the same as the infinite dilution studies, only now, the carrier gas contains a constant concentration level of the solvent. (Price et al, 2006). microbalance (Price et al, 2006).…”

Techniques to measure sorption and migration between small molecules and packaging. A critical review

“…In the MSB or McBain balance, preferably a large amount of polymer sample is used for the purpose of accuracy, so attaining equilibrium can take a longer time. This is not the case with the QCM, 41 which allows working with a smaller quantity of polymer coated on the quartz crystal and thus wileyonlinelibrary.com/jsfa achieving quicker equilibration. Polymer films (Tecoflex™) as thin as 0.75 μm coated on the quartz crystal have been tested for sorption properties of ethanol, with each pressure increment step after 26 min, by Smith et al 42 The spring balances have a sensitivity as high as 0.1 μg, whereas modern QCMs can measure with a sensitivity of 0.0001 ng.…”