Polyether polyol/CO2 solutions: Solubility, mutual diffusivity, specific volume and interfacial tension by coupled gravimetry Axisymmetric Drop Shape Analysis
Abstract In this work we investigate the sorption of CO 2 in a formulated polyether polyol, typically used to obtain rigid polyurethane foams when it reacts with isocyanates. In particular, by using a fully experimental, coupled gravimetry Axisymmetric Drop Shape Analysis, solubility, mutual diffusivity, specific volume and interfacial tension of polyol/CO 2 solutions have been measured at 35 degC and at CO 2 pressures up to 8000 kPa. CO 2 treated polyol was also subjected to Gel Permeation Chromatography (GPC) and Fourier Transform Infrared (FT IR) spectroscopic analysis to evaluate the effect of the high CO 2 pressure treatment. The results show quite a large CO 2 solubilization (up to 17% ca. in the examined experimental range) in turn responsible for a moderate swelling of the polymer and an extensive effect on the interfacial tension, which reaches vanishing values at the highest investigated pressure.