Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research, Vol.40, No.2, 604-611, 2001
Measurement of HCFC-22 and HFC-152a sorption by polymers using a quartz crystal microbalance
In the present study the solubilities of hydrochlorofluorocarbon HCFC-22 and hydrofluorocarbon HFC-152a in polystyrene (PS) and poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) were measured, using a modified quartz crystal microbalance. Measurements were performed in the low-temperature region from 35 to 85 degreesC and at low to moderately high pressures. The solubilities of both fluorocarbons were greater in PMMA possibly because of its polar nature. HCFC-22 showed a greater solubility in both polymers compared to HFC-152a. In all systems, except in the PS/HFC-152a, a gas-induced plasticization of polymers occurs, as revealed by the resulting convex sorption isotherms. The solubility data for these systems are described satisfactorily by the Flory-Huggins model.