Effect of antiplasticization on gas sorption and transport. II. Poly(phenylene oxide)

Abstract

Abstract The propensity for various diluents to cause antiplasticization of poly(phenylene oxide) was examined and compared with similar responses for polysufone. Of the diluents used, none resulted in significant stiffening of poly(phenylene oxide) at 35°C relative to what was observed for polysulfone in an earlier paper. However, these diluents did cause substantial reduction in gas sorption levels and permeability coefficients. The latter is consequently a more sensitive indicator of changes in molecular motions of glassy polymers caused by diluents. The permeability response of adding low molecular weight diluents is compared with that of adding a high molecular weight polymer, polystyrene, to poly(phenylene oxide). The data were analyzed and interpreted along lines used in the companion paper for polysulfone.