(Liquid + liquid) equilibria of binary systems containing hyperbranched polymer Boltorn® H2004 – Experimental study and modelling in terms of lattice-cluster theory

(Liquid + liquid) phase equilibria (LLE) of binary mixtures containing hyperbranched polymer Boltorn® H2004 and n-alkanes (n-hexane, n-heptane, n-octane, and n-decane) were studied over the temperature range from about (260 up to 360) K. The polymer is partially miscible with n-alkanes and the solubility decreases with an increase of the chain length of the solvent. Corresponding LLE phase diagrams including spinodal and binodal (liquid + liquid) coexistence curves were calculated in terms of the statistical mechanics – based on the lattice-cluster theory, based only on the upper critical solution temperature, and the polymer chain architecture. The results show semi-qualitative agreement of predicted and experimental equilibrium compositions and temperatures. Boltorn® H2004 reveals complete miscibility in the liquid phase with alcohols (C1–C8), aromatic hydrocarbons (benzene, toluene, and thiophene), and ethers (methyl tetra-butyl ether, ethyl tetra-butyl ether, and tetrahydrofurane).