Pressure–volume–temperature dependencies of polystyrenes

The pressure–volume–temperature (PVT) dependencies of four molten polystyrenes (PS) were determined at T=450–530 K, and P=0.1–190 MPa. In addition, five sets of published PVT data for PS were examined. The Simha–Somcynsky (S–S) lattice-hole equation of state (eos) was used to analyze the data. Fitting the data to eos yielded the characteristic reducing parameters, viz. P*, V*, T*, where from the Lennard–Jones measures of energetic (ε*), and volumetric (v*) interactions were calculated. It was found that: (1) the values of the interaction parameters for PS resins varied, viz. 27.7≤ε*≤35.2, and 35.5≤v*≤50.2; (2) ε* was dependent on v*, and (3) ε* and v* linearly increased with the logarithm of molecular weight. In addition, these volume-averaged interaction parameters depend on the chain configuration, as well as the presence of additives.