Solubility and diffusivity of CO(2) in carboxylated polyesters

The solubility of CO(2) in saturated polyester resins at different temperatures (306 and 343 K) and pressures (0.1-30 MPa) has been measured using a magnetic suspension balance. The solubility data were used for estimating the binary diffusion coefficients. The results show a good solubility of CO(2) in polymers, up to 0.64 g CO(2)/g polymer. The diffusion coefficients of supercritical CO(2) in polymers have generally high values and are in the range from 0.156 x 10(-8) to 10.38 x 10(-8) cm(2)/s. DSC and XRD analyses of the semi-crystalline polymer samples indicate that amorphous degree of polymers after exposure to CO(2) is increased. The observed structural effects are dependent on pressure, temperature and time of exposure to CO(2).