Materials, Interfaces, and Electrochemical Phenomena

Network structure and methanol transport dynamics in poly(methyl methacrylate)

  1. Adam K. Ekenseair1,
  2. Nicholas A. Peppas1,2,*

Article first published online: 27 OCT 2011

DOI: 10.1002/aic.12784

Issue

AIChE Journal

AIChE Journal

Volume 58, Issue 5, pages 1600–1609, May 2012

Additional Information

How to Cite

Ekenseair, A. K. and Peppas, N. A. (2012), Network structure and methanol transport dynamics in poly(methyl methacrylate). AIChE J., 58: 1600–1609. doi: 10.1002/aic.12784

Author Information

  1. 1

    Dept. of Chemical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712

  2. 2

    Dept. of Bioengineering, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712

*Dept. of Chemical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 6 APR 2012
  2. Article first published online: 27 OCT 2011
  3. Accepted manuscript online: 11 OCT 2011 08:40AM EST
  4. Manuscript Revised: 28 SEP 2011
  5. Manuscript Received: 5 AUG 2011

Funded by

  • National Science Foundation for a Graduate Research Fellowship
  • Department of Defense for a National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate Fellowship
  • Pratt Trust

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Keywords:

  • anomalous transport;
  • Case II transport;
  • poly(methyl methacrylate);
  • polymer properties;
  • polymerization

Abstract

The effect of the polymer network structure on methanol transport dynamics in glassy polymers was investigated in both dry and plasticized disks of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) through gravimetric integral sorption studies. PMMA was synthesized by a controlled free radical polymerization mechanism, crosslinked in bulk with ethylene glycol dimethacrylate, and swollen in methanol under a variety of conditions. In the Case II transport regime, control over the transport rate was shown to depend on the glassy-state properties of the polymer, and the Case II front velocity was found to be proportional to the square root of the crosslinking density. Similarities were observed in the penetrant transport behavior of both dry and plasticized samples at high degrees of crosslinking, and the activation energy of methanol transport at low degrees of crosslinking was found to be similar for both Fickian and Case II mechanisms. © 2011 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 2012

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