An asymptotic analysis of polymer desorption and skinning

Abstract

During desorption of penetrant-saturated polymers, a glassy skin can form at the exposed surface. The associated dynamics are not purely Fickian due to viscoelastic relaxation effects in the polymer. A model is presented which captures these nonlocal effects. The motion of the glass-rubber interface and the accumulated desorbed flux are calculated. The model also describes trapping skinning, where an increase in the driving force reduces the amount of penetrant released. © Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH, 1999.