Prediction of PolymerSolvent Diffusion Coefficients Using Free-Volume Theory

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1. Introduction : Molecular diffusion of small molecules in polymers plays an important role in many areas where polymers are acting as barriers, and in separation processes, such as selective diffusion. Different applications of polymers have different requirements on their transport properties. Therefore, reliable predictions of diffusion coefficients for small molecules in polymeric materials could be a useful tool to design appropriate materials. For many years, the theories based on free-volume concepts have been widely used to correlate and predict diffusion behavior in polymer/solvent systems. In the theory derived by Vrentas and Duda, the empty space between molecules that is available for molecular transport, referred to as hole free-volume, is being redistributed. Molecular transport will occur only when a free-volume of sufficient size appears adjacent to a molecule and the molecule has enough energy to jump into this void. The diffusive jump is considered complete when the void left behind is closed before the molecule returns to its original position. In this paper, the Vrentas-Duda free-volume theory is presented and the methods to estimate free-volume parameters for predicting polymer/ solvent diffusion coefficients are described in detail.