Swelling of gels based on butadiene-styrene block copolymers

The swelling of thermoplastic gels based on a star-shaped butadiene-styrene block copolymer in a selective plasticizer was studied. It was shown that the swelling degree depends on the initial content of the plasticizer in the gel under examination. An equation for the chemical potential of the plasticizer distributed in the elastic matrix of the gel was proposed. The parameter of interaction between the plasticizer and polybutadiene blocks in the copolymer was estimated. The experimental results are compared with theoretical data obtained within the frame work of the lattice-type model of solutions.