Equilibrium solubility of CO2 in rubbery EVA over a wide pressure range: effects of carbonyl group content and crystallinity

The equilibrium CO₂ sorption isotherms and isobars for rubbery EVA containing various amounts of vinyl acetate (VA) over a wide pressure range 10-340 atm and 25-52 °C were investigated. The normalized CO₂ sorption concentration (in cm³ (STP) CO₂/mole VA) isotherms of these polymers as a function of pressure consisted of two distinct regions turning at near P_c. The normalized sorption isotherms in these two distinct regions could be fairly described by two respective power laws: C=K_aP^n_a for above P_c and C=k_bP^n_b for below P_c. The normalized CO₂ sorption isotherms were found to be about the same for four EVA samples having different VA contents for below P_c, suggesting that the sorption process at below P_c may be mainly driven by the presence of carbonyl groups. At above P_c, the degree of crystallinity of the polymer appeared to be a major factor to affect the sorption process, with the higher the degree of crystallinity, the lower the normalized CO₂ sorption concentration in the polymer. The sorption isobars of the polymer as a function of temperature were governed by the interplay of density, viscosity, and diffusivity of CO₂ depending on the pressure studied.