Abstract
The diffusion of binary solvents of benzene and cyclohexane in polyisoprene rubber networks was observed by Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) mapping spectroscopy. The spatial correlation of solvent diffusion and rubber swelling was established with a temporal resolution of 5 min and spatial resolution of 15 mm. The results suggest that the binary solvents combining the penetrability of benzene and the compatibility of cyclohexane, resulted in the rubber swelling more in the mixture of these two solvents than in either solvent alone. The segregation of solvents was monitored using different volume ratios of benzene and cyclohexane and it was found that the largest segregation appears with an equal volume mixture of benzene and cyclohexane, which also corresponds to the largest rubber swelling.
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