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Determination of the diffusivity of n ‐pentane in polystyrene bead foam
Author(s) -
Fossey D. J.,
Smith C. H.
Publication year - 1973
Publication title -
journal of applied polymer science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.575
H-Index - 166
eISSN - 1097-4628
pISSN - 0021-8995
DOI - 10.1002/app.1973.070170609
Subject(s) - pentane , thermal diffusivity , polystyrene , materials science , diffusion , thermodynamics , chromatography , composite material , polymer , chemistry , physics , organic chemistry
The amount of residual n ‐pentane in expandable polystyrene bead foam (PSBF) has an effect on the strength and dimensional stability of the foam. Data were needed to determine how fast the residual n ‐pentane could be removed to enhance the properties of PSBF. An experiment was designed to determine the diffusivity of n ‐pentane through PSBF at various temperatures. Mathematical models based on the appropriate diffusion differential equations were then used to predict n ‐pentane concentrations in in cylinders of PSBF. The diffusivity of n ‐pentane through PSBF was found to have a magnitude of 1×10 ‐8 to 1×10 −6 cm 2 /sec and to vary with temperature, foam density, n ‐pentane concentration, and foam structure.