MATHEMATICAL-MODEL OF THE DESORPTION OF SWELLING SOLVENTS FROM SWOLLEN POLYMER-FILMS

Desorption of swelling solvents from swollen polymer samples presents several interesting features. Initial rates of desorption are often very significantly larger than absorption rates, while long term desorption rates are extremely slow. A mathematical model which has recently been applied successfully to the analysis of absorption phenomena is extended to desorption. The model predicts all the experimentally observed features of desorption, without need of adjustable parameters. © 1979.