15 Introduction of "Swelling Index" into the coal science

Abstract

In order to characterize cross-linked macromolecular network structure of coal a series of solvent swelling experiment using not only coal but also synthetic model polymers has been conducted by using specially designed handmade apparatus which has a capability to determine the swelling rate (V) besides the equilibrium swelling ratio(Q), with reasonable accuracy, it was found that the rate of swelling has been reflected more sensitively on the such macromolecular network structure of coal as covalent cross-linking, non-bonding interaction based on oxygen-atom functionality. Several useful swelling index have been introduced for the practical use.