Computational study of the process of polymer swelling in organic solvents

No satisfactory quantitative relationships exist between polymer swelling parameters and some distinct physical‐chemical parameters of organic solvents producing this swelling. Such relationships can only be obtained by means of linear multiparameter equations, which take into account the energy needed for cavity formation in solvents and also solvation effects. The advantages of such an approach are supported by examples of the generalization of experimental data for the swelling of many polymers and coals. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.