Journal of Polymer Science Part B: Polymer Physics, Vol.35, No.7, 1043-1048, 1997
Diffusion of Gold and Silver in Bisphenol Trimethylcyclohexanen Polycarbonate
Diffusion coefficients between 5 x 10(-14) and 1 x 10(-16) cm(2) s(-1) have been measured for diffusion of gold and silver in the glassy state of bisphenol trimethylcyclohexanen polycarbonate in the temperature range between T-g = 507 K and 420 K using the radiotracer technique in combination with ion-beam sputtering for serial sectioning. The Arrhenius plot exhibits a downward curvature, which is interpreted within an extension of the free-volume theory to the glassy state by Vrentas and Duda. The very small metal diffusivities in comparison to values for gas molecules of comparable size suggest substantial interaction energies.