Compressibility of bulk polymers

Bulk compressibilities of a series of linear and crosslinked polymers have been measured, in a Matsuoka‐Maxwell apparatus, at pressures up to 10,000 atmospheres and at temperatures to 202°C. These polymers exhibited nonlinear compressibility characteristics and a maximium compressibility of about 15% at 10,000 atmospheres. At slow loading rates, data were obtained for the amorphous polymers which could be expressed as glass‐rubber phase gisgrams. The nature of the observed compressibilities are discussed and the usefulness of the data is indicated.