Method for Structural Characterization of High Polymeric Networks by an Osmotic Pressure Technique

Abstract An apparatus was designed to measure the osmotic pressure of solvent-polymer systems. The method is unique in that semirigid polymers may be incorporated as the solute component without specimen fissures occurring from excessive solvent dilative action. The advantages of this technique are: high polymeric materials both elastomeric and plastic can be structurally characterized by the same technique; the calculated effective molecular weight of the polymer network will reflect a value consistent with the polymer's performance characteristics; and the method is only restricted to lyophilic polymer—solvent systems.