The 2-D diffusion and permeation cell is indigenously designed and developed to measure the diffusivity and permeability of gases in polymer samples. The cell is designed to perform the measurements at pressures up to 700 bar and 150°C.
Detailed description
The cell basically consists of two chambers of equal volumes of about 500 cm3. The polymer samples on which the measurements are carried out is sandwiched between two porous plates. These two plates are in-turn sandwiched between yet another set of stainless steel plates with larger holes in them.
This entire combination is mounted in the two equal volume chambers and the two cells are held together by two stainless steel flanges. These flanges are securely fastened by the use of 8 heavy-duty stud bolts.
One of the chambers in the cell is the high-pressure (HP) or the primary cell, whereas, the other one is the low-pressure (LP) or the secondary cell. The entire cell after assembly is mounted on a hook on a frame in the fume hood. Heating og the cell is achieved by circulating hot clycerin through the two jackets that enclose the permeation cell.
Temperature measurement is via a PT-100 thermocouple. The pressure between the two cells is measured and controlled by the Fisher-Rosemount pressure transducers. A computer program collects the data on the cell temperature and pressure as a function of time.
Publications
Vasu Neela and Nicolas von Solms, “Permeability, diffusivity and solubility of carbon dioxide in fluoropolymers: an experimental and modeling study” J. Polym. Res. 21 (2014) 401
Jimoh K. Adewole, Lars Jensen, Usamah A. Al-Mubaiyedh, Nicolas von Solms, Ibnelwaleed A. Hussein, “Transport properties of natural gas through polyethylene nanocomposites at high temperature and pressure” J. Polym. Res. 19, 9814 (2012).