Sorption of n-Hexane in Amorphous Polystyrene

Sorption properties of pure n-hexane vapor in amorphous polystyrene (PS) were studied at 298 K by thermogravimetry under controlled vapor pressure. Two sorption-desorption cycles were performed by varying the relative pressure between 0 and 0.91. Mixing of PS with n-hexane resulted in a strong plasticization, which was evidenced by quite significant depression in the glass transition temperature of the polymer as shown by differential scanning calorimetry. Maximum quantity of n-hexane sorbed in the PS at 298 K and at a pressure close to saturation was about 12.4 wt %. The thermogravimetry yielded an isotherm with a strong hysteresis loop, explanation of which was hypothesized with the help of (a) Flory-Huggins sorption model extended by Vrentas, (b) analysis in terms of modification in the glass transition temperature of the n-hexane/PS system as a function of sorbed quantity, and (c) change in total volume of the system. (C) 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.