Diffusion and sorption of organic liquids through polymer membranes. II. Neoprene, SBR, EPDM, NBR, and natural rubber versus <i>n</i>‐alkanes

Abstract

Abstract Diffusion and sorption of n ‐alkanes (C 6 –C 10 ) through commercial polymer membranes such as neoprene, styrene butadiene rubber, ethylene propylene diene terpolymer, nitrile butadiene rubber, and natural rubber have been studied from 25 to 60°C. The diffusion results have been explained in terms of the size of liquid molecules and the diffusion mechanism was found to follow the Fickian trend. Nitrile butadiene rubber and neoprene showed much smaller values of diffusivities and sorption constants than the other polymer membranes. Arrhenius parameters for the activated diffusion process and the thermodynamic quantities for the process of equilibrium sorption have been estimated.