GAS SORPTION IN POLYMERS BASED ON BISPHENOL-A

Equilibrium gas sorption measurements for CO//2, CH//4, and N//2 were made with three polymers based on bisphenol-A, namely a polyhydroxyether, a polyetherimide, and a polyarylate. These data plus previous results for two other bisphenol-A polymers, polycarbonate and polysulfone, were analyzed using the dual-mode sorption model and the more recent gas-polymer-matrix model. The models were compared on the basis of physical interpretations of the unrelaxed volume of the glassy polymer. The Henry's law sorption parameter form the dual-mode model was related to the internal pressure of the polymer and to its tensile stress at yield. The work suggests a means for estimation of gas sorption levels from thermal and mechanical properties of the polymer.