Tech Support Doc 0023

Common Solvents and

Non-solvents of Polystyrene
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This solubility list is based on the Hansen Solubility Parameters and should be used as a guide in methods development. The nuances
of particle solubility in a given solvent should ultimately be investigated by the experimenter during assay optimization and this guide is
not a substitute for bench top evaluation.

Adapted from: Brandrup, J., and E.H. Immergut, eds. 1975. Polymer Handbook, Second Edition. New York: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Other references include:

Hansen, C. M. (2015). Hansen Solubility Parameters: A User’s Handbook, Second Edition (2nd ed.). Boca Raton, FL: CRC press.
Burke J. Solubility Parameters: Theory and Application. AIC Book and Paper Group Annual 1984;3:13

Microparticle Solubility Based on Hansen Solublity Parameters

Solubility (S=Soluble, I=Insoluble)

Solvent Class Solvent
Polystyrene PMMA
n-Butane I I
n-Pentane I I
n-Hexane I I
n-Heptane I I
Alkanes n-Octane S I
Isooctane I I
n-Dodecane S I
Cyclohexane S I
Methylcyclohexane S I
Benzene S I
Toluene S S
Napthalene S S
Aromatic Hydrocarbons Styrene S I
o-Xylene S I
Ethyl benzene S I
p- Diethyl benzene S I
Chloro methane S S
Methylene chloride S S
1,1 Dichloroethylene S S
Ethylene dichloride S S
Chloroform S S
Halohydrocarbons 1,1 Dichloroethane S S
Trichloroethylene S S
Carbon tetrachloride S I
Chlorobenzene S S
o-Dichlorobenzene S S
1,1,2 Trichlorotrifluoroethane I I
Tetrahydrofuran S S
1,4 Dioxane S I
Ethers
Diethyl ether I I
Dibenzyl ether S S

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Acetone S S
Methyl ethyl ketone S S
Cyclohexanone S S
Diethyl ketone S S
Ketones Acetophenone S S
Methyl isobutyl ketone S S
Methyl isoamyl ketone S S
Isophorone S S
Di-(isobutyl) ketone S S
Ethylene carbonate I I
Methyl acetate S S
Ethyl formate S S
Propylene 1,2 carbonate S S
Ethyl acetate S S
Diethyl carbonate S S
Esters
Diethyl sulfate I S
n-Butyl acetate S I
Isobutyl acetate I I
2-Ethoxyethyl acetate S S
Isoamyl acetate S I
Isobutyl isobutyrate I I
Nitromethane I I
Nitroethane I S
2-Nitropropane S S
Nitrobenzene S S
Ethanolamine I S
Ethylene diem me S S
Pyridine S S
Nitrogen Compounds
Morpholine S S
Analine S S
N-Methyl-2-pyrrolidone S S
Cyclohexylamine S S
Quinoline S S
Formamide I I
N,N-Dimethylformamide S S
Carbon disulfide S I
Sulfur Dimethylsulphoxide S S
Compounds
Ethanethiol S S

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Methanol I I
Ethanol S S
Allyl alcohol S S
1-Propanol S S
2-Propanol S S
1-B utanol S S
2-Butanol S S
Isobutanol I I
Alcohols Benzyl alcohol S S
Cyclohexanol S S
Diacetone alcohol S S
Ethylene glycol monoethyl ether S S
Diethylene glycol monomethyl ether S S
Diethylene glycol monoethyl ether S S
Ethylene glycol monobutyl ether S S
Diethylene glycol monobutyl ether S S
1 -Decanol S S
Formic acid I I
Acetic acid I I
Acids Benzoic acid S S
Oleic acid I I
Stearic acid S S
Phenol S S
Resorcinol S S
Phenols
m-Cresol S S
Methyl salicylate S S
Ethylene glycol S S
Glycerol S S
Propylene glycol S S
Polyhydric Alcohols
Diethylene glycol I S
Triethylene glycol I S
Dipropylene glycol I I
Water I I

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