ABSTRACT
Polymer thermodynamics plays an important role in a large number of processes and in the design of many different polymer-based products. Examples include:
1. The removal of unreacted monomers, colorants, by-products, toxic compounds, and other additives after polymerization
2. The selection of mixed solvents in the paints and coatings industry toward designing environmentally-friendly paints (water-based, fewer VOC)
3. The control of emissions from paints as well as the swelling of the film in the presence of water
4. The recycling of polymers based on physicochemical methods like selective dissolution 5. The compatibility of polymer blends including those with novel structures (star-like,
dendrimers), permeabilities of gases in flexible polymeric pipes used in the North Sea and other major oil and gas producing areas for transporting of hydrocarbons on the seabed and from the seabed to the surface
6. Compatibility of plasticizers in PVC 7. In the biotechnology, aqueous two-phase systems based on polymers for separating
proteins
This is only a short list, and many more applications of polymer thermodynamics exist. In several of these cases it is not sufficient to employ only the Hansen solubility parameters (HSP), as much more detailed calculations may be needed, including solvent activities, for example, for solvent emission assessment or even full phase diagrams and at both low (e.g., biotechnology) and high pressures (e.g., polyolefin industry, gas permeabilities in polymers).
