Abstract
The rate of diffusion of small molecules within polymer matrices is important in an enormous scope of practical scenarios. However, it is challenging to perform direct measurements of each system of interest under realistic conditions. Free volume theories have proven capable of predicting diffusion coefficients in polymers but often require large amounts of physical constants as input. Therefore, we adapted a version of the Vrentas-Duda free volume theory of diffusion such that the necessary parameters may be obtained from a limited set of diffusion data collected at the temperature of interest using commercially available and automated sorption equipment. This approach correlates the size and shape of molecules to their trace diffusion coefficient, D, such that D of very large, solid diffusants can be predicted based on properties measured for condensable vapor diffusants. Our analysis was based on the volume-averaged transport properties of polyaromatic color additives within segmentally arranged poly(ether-block-amide) (PEBAX) block copolymer matrices. At very high polyamide content the considerable plasticization effects due to absorbed water can be accommodated by increasing the available hole free volume as a function of water content. Alternatively, if the release rate of additives is measured for very high polyether content and degree of swelling, the release rate in the unswollen elastomer may be anticipated using the tortuosity model of Mackie and Meares. Agreement of these physical models to new experimental data provides a scientific basis for accurately predicting the in vivo leaching of aromatic additives from medical device polymers using accelerated and/or simplified in vitro methodologies.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 6137-6148 |
| Number of pages | 12 |
| Journal | Macromolecules |
| Volume | 50 |
| Issue number | 16 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Aug 22 2017 |
Bibliographical note
Funding Information:The findings and conclusions in this paper have not been formally disseminated by the Food and Drug Administration, are the views of the authors, and should not be construed to represent any agency determination or policy. The mention of commercial products, their sources, or their use in connection with material reported herein is not to be construed as either an actual or implied endorsement of such products by the Department of Health and Human Services. This research was funded by the CDRH Critical Path program, DBCMS program funding, and was partially administered by the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education through an agreement between the U.S. Department of Energy and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The authors thank Chris Forrey, Laura Espinal, and Antonio Toledo for help with the quartz spring microbalance apparatus and Joseph Stephens, Matt Bills, Melissa Levasseur, Taylor Boissonneault, and Nathan Doyle for the catheter tubing samples. The authors also thank Samanthi Wickramasekara, Ji Guo, Jennifer Goode, and Brendan Casey for helpful conversations. The authors thank Dave Saylor for providing aspect ratio values for the diffusant molecules.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2017 American Chemical Society.