EFFECT OF GLASS TRANSITION TEMPERATURE ON VOLATILE EMISSIONS FROM POLYMER MATERIALS

摘要

It has been shown that diffusion coefficients, partition coefficients, and initial concentrations of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) as well as ventilation rates affect the rate at which building materials emit these compounds. There is now evidence that glass transition temperature could be a key parameter affecting emission rates of VOCs from polymeric building materials. This study shows that temperature relative to the glass transition temperature influences the rate of emissions from vinyl flooring. Thermal desorption was used to extract VOCs from samples at temperatures ranging from 35 oC to 75 oC. The glass transition temperature of the vinyl flooring was determined to be 49 oC. The emission rate ofn-pentadecane, was essentially constant at temperatures between 35 oC and 45 oC but increased by 430% from 35 oC to 75 oC. This finding is consistent with the free volume theory of polymers.