A method for estimating both the solubility parameters and molar volumes of liquids

The solubility parameters and molar volumes of substances can be used, in conjunction with suitable theory, to provide estimates of the thermodynamic properties of solutions; the solubility characteristics of polymer‐solvent systems and the estimation of the equilibrium uptake of liquids by polymers are examples of the type of practical problems that are amenable to treatment.

For low molecular weight liquids, the solubility parameter, δ, is conveniently calculated using the expression δ = (ΔE_v/V)½, where ΔE_v is the energy of vaporization at a given temperature and V is the corresponding molar volume which is calculated from the known values of molecular weight and density.

For high molecular weight polymers, the volatility is much too low for ΔE_v to be obtained directly and hence recourse must be made to indirect methods for estimating δ for these materials. One such widely used method is based on Small's additive group “molar‐attraction constants” which when summed allow the estimation of δ from a knowledge of the structural formula of the material; however, the density must still be determined experimentally.

The proposed method of estimating δ, also based on group additive constants is believed to be superior to Small's method for two reasons: (1) the contribution of a much larger number of functional groups have been evaluated, and (2) the method requires only a knowledge of the structural formula of the compound.