Polymer, Vol.38, No.12, 2989-2995, 1997
The Permeability of a Disazothiophene Dye Solute in Polymer Matrices Above the Glass-Transition
The permeability of a functionalized dye solute in various amorphous polymers above the glass transition temperature has been investigated using dye diffusion thermal transfer printing. A disazothiophene dye molecule was transferred from a constant dye-donor polymer matrix to a variety of dye-acceptor polymer matrices. All dye-acceptor polymers were amorphous, but their chemical structures, glass transition temperatures and solubility behaviours were modified. Dye transfer during a constant print cycle time (i.e. a constant temperature profile) was found to depend on both the diffusivity and the solubility of the solute. Using the solution-diffusion model of permeability as a starting point, equations were developed relating solute permeability to structural characteristics of the components. An excellent correlation has been made for solute permeability as a function of polymer T-g and dye-polymer affinity as defined by solubility parameter differences.
Keywords:STATISTICAL MECHANICAL MODEL;VOLUME BASED THEORY;SIMPLE PENETRANTS;AMORPHOUS POLYMERS;LARGE MOLECULES;DIFFUSION;DEPENDENCE;TG