Swelling of physically cross-linked copolymers in water vapour

A general thermodynamic equation for the swelling of a cross-linked polymer system in the vapour of a swelling agent has been derived under isothermal and isobaric conditions. The equation is used to describe the equilibrium uptake of water by elastomers Arnitel(R) (DSM), which are hard-soft-segment block copolymers in which the hard segments poly(butylene terephthalate) crystallise and are responsible for a physical cross-linking. The gravimetrically determined degrees of swelling of different elastomers in water vapour of various partial pressures are analysed and discussed by the application of an extended semi-empirical swelling equation of Flory-Huggins-Staverman-van Santen. (C) 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.