Water absorption and its effect on polyarylate

摘要

AbstractWater absorption and its effect on the tensile and impact properties of polyarylate was studied by immersing polyarylate specimens in water baths, between 23 and 98°C. The diffusivity was calculated to be 11 × 10−9cm2/s at 23°C with an activation energy of 9.8 kcal/mole. The aromatic ester in polyarylate is hydrolyzed by water, which was found to cause a decrease in molecular weight and in mechanical properties. In the early stage, the reaction is zero‐order and the activation energy of the hydrolytic embrittlement is 22 kca