Critical analysis of the graphical determination of hansen's solubility parameters for lightly crosslinked polymers

Abstract

The most widely accepted method for determining Hansen's three-dimensional solubility parameters (3DSP) for crosslinked polymers entails graphically estimating the center of a spherical region in 3DSP-coordinate space whose boundaries are defined in terms of the extent of swelling by solvents whose 3DSP values are known. In this article, the results of immersion tests performed at 25°C with 53 solvents on each of four commercial polymeric glove materials are used to critically evaluate this method. Analyses reveal a number of serious shortcomings with respect to the reliability of 3DSP estimates obtained. In the context of modeling solubility or other measures of solvent–polymer compatability, it is recommended that alternative methods be sought for determining 3DSPs for crosslinked polymers. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.