Sorption and transport of aqueous salt solutions of acetates, acetic and monochloroacetic acids in polyurethane

Sorption, diffusion and permeation of aqueous salt solutions of acetates of sodium, calcium and nickel in addition to acetic and monochloroacetic acid solutions have been investigated in the temperature interval of 25–60°C in a commercial polyurethane. An immersion/weight-gain experiment was used to study sorption and diffusion of 0.15, 0.5 and 1.0 M solutions of acids and salts. Permeability coefficients were estimated from sorption and diffusivity coefficients. From the temperature dependence of transport coefficients, the Arrhenius activation parameters have been estimated and the results were used in the discussion of transport mechanisms. The diffusivity of monochloroacetic acid solution was smaller but its solubility was higher than all the solutions used in this research. For comparative purposes, the transport of water was also studied.