Water Sorption Study of Various Polymers and Polymeric Composites

Abstract

In the formulations of many composite materials, polymeric materials are often used as binder materials to enhance processability, functionality, and safety during manufacturing. For instance, poly(ester urethane), such as Estane® 5703, is used in the formulation of PBX 9501, and vinyl copolymer elastomer (VCE) is used in the formulation of VCE/filler compos ites. The stability of these binders directly impacts the overall stability and performance of their composites. Estane and VCE are prone to hydrolytic degradation, with water sorption behavior playing a significant role in their long-term stability and aging behavior. Hence, it is critical to study their water sorption behavior under various humidity and tempera ture conditions. To improve the accuracy and reduce labor-intensive work involved in water sorption experiments, an automated Dynamic Vapor Sorption (DVS) system was employed, which can generate large datasets. To efficiently process and analyze these datasets, Python scripts were developed. These scripts not only streamlined data processing, but also accu rately derived the Arrhenius parameters related to water diffusion and sorption properties for the tested materials. This approach offers a robust framework for evaluating water trans port and sorption processes in polymeric materials and adds valuable capabilities to future water sorption testing efforts.