Permeation, diffusion, and sorption of dimethyl ether in fluoroelastomers

The permeation, diffusion, and sorption of dimethyl ether into a series of commercial fluoroelastomers were characterized at various pressures and temperatures. The polymers under study were based on tetrafluoroethylene and contained various amounts of other perfluorinated monomers: perfluoromethylvinylether, hexafluoropropylene, and a partially fluorinated monomer, vinylidene fluoride (VDF). These polymers were also filled with inorganic particles and cured with different techniques. The permeation rate of dimethyl ether in the elastomers examined, as well as the solubility value, increased as the content of the nonperfluorinated monomer (VDF) increased, and this was consistent with the solubility parameter theory. The diffusion coefficients, at a fixed concentration, had rather similar values for most of the elastomers examined. Both the permeability and diffusivity increased with temperature, and the corresponding activation energies were obtained for two selected polymers. The solubility of dimethyl ether, at a fixed temperature and activity, showed a linear dependence versus the weight fraction of the partially fluorinated monomer (VDF) in the polymeric matrix. The effect of the filler on the sorption and transport properties was also considered: the addition of the filler lowered the permeability and diffusivity, whereas the solubility was generally increased with respect to the crosslinked rubber. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.