Swelling definition of Swelling in the Free Online Encyclopedia.

swelling

an abnormal enlargement of a bodily structure or part, esp as the result of injury

swelling

The volume increase caused by wetting, absorption of moisture, or chemical changes.

Swelling

an increase in volume of solid bodies caused by their absorption of liquids or vapors from the environment. The capacity to swell is a characteristic property of bodies consisting of macromolecular compounds (polymers). Swelling is caused by diffusion processes, which are usually accompanied by solvation (the binding of a low-molecular-weight substance by a polymer).

A distinction is made between limited and unlimited swelling. In the first case the macromolecules are bonded fairly strongly, and swelling stops after having reached a certain limit. The swelled body retains its shape and a distinct boundary with the liquid phase. In the second case, mutual diffusion of the solvent and the polymer gradually leads to the disappearance of the interphase boundary between the swelling body and the liquid. Such swelling culminates in complete dissolution of the polymer. For example, limited swelling is exhibited by gel-like ion-exchange resins in water and by vulcanized rubber in benzene; unlimited swelling is exhibited by all polymers that are soluble in a particular solvent. In some cases, such as the gelatin-water system, limited swelling gives way to unlimited swelling with increasing temperature. Swelling is also a property of some minerals with a lamellar crystal lattice—for example, the montmorillonites. Upon swelling in water, such materials may undergo spontaneous dispersion, leading to the formation of highly disperse colloidal systems.

Swelling has wide use in industry and in everyday life. It frequently accompanies bonding of polymer materials, processing of polymers to produce various articles, production of rubber adhesives, and other processes, such as preparation of many foods and many natural processes (germination of seeds and spores).

REFERENCES

Tager, A. A. Fizikokhimiia polimerov. 2nd ed. Moscow, 1968. Page 314.
Voiutskii, S. S. Kurs kolloidnoi khimii. Moscow, 1964. Page 482.

L. A. SHITS

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No references found	On the first of June the ship got under way, and dropped down to Baker's Bay, where she was detained for a few days by a head wind; but early in the morning of the fifth stood out to sea with a fine breeze and swelling canvas, and swept off gaily on her fatal voyage, from which she was never to return! Astoria or Anecdotes of an enterprise beyond the Rocky Mountains by Irving, Washington View in context My swelling heart involuntarily pours itself out thus. Frankenstein by Shelley, Mary View in context Although he lay on his left side, never less than twice, and often three and four times, the hurt of the swelling woke him. Michael, Brother of Jerry by London, Jack View in context	sweetbriar sweetbrier sweetener sweetener, artificial sweetening Sweetest Day sweetgum SweetLambda Sweetser, Arthur Sweetwater County Sweetwater Creek State Park Sweetwater Rattlesnake Round-Up Sweezy, Paul Marlor Sweitzer barn Sweitzer Lake State Park Swell swell box swell diameter swell direction swell factor swell forecast swell-and-swale topography swellage swelled chamfer swelled ground Swelling swelling clay swep swept valley swept wing swept-frequency analyzer swept-frequency reflectometer sweptback wing Sweyn Sweyn I Sweynheym, Conrad SWF SWG SWI-Prolog Swida Swiderian Culture Swidnica SWierczewski, Karol Swietochlowice Swietochowski, Aleksander Swietokrzyskie Mountains Swietoslawski, Wojciech Alojzy swift Swift and Company Swift County Swift Current	swellage swellage Swelldom swelled swelled swelled swelled swelled chamfer swelled ground swelled head swelled head swelled head swelled-headed Swellendam Getaway Adventure Farm sweller sweller sweller sweller swellest swellest swellest swellest swellfish swellfish swellfish swellfishes swellhead swellhead swellheaded swellheaded Swelling Swelling (medical) Swelling (medical) Swelling (medical) swelling clay Swelling cumulus Swelling Itching Brain Swelling of Ankles Swelling of arm and eye Swelling of arm and eye Swelling of arm and eye swelling of eyes swelling of optic disk Swelling of prostate Swelling of prostate Swelling of Sickle Red Blood Cells Swelling soil Swelling soil swelling utterance swellings swellings swellings swellings Swellish swells swells swells swells Swellshark Swelltoad SWELP

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On the first of June the ship got under way, and dropped down to Baker's Bay, where she was detained for a few days by a head wind; but early in the morning of the fifth stood out to sea with a fine breeze and swelling canvas, and swept off gaily on her fatal voyage, from which she was never to return!

Astoria or Anecdotes of an enterprise beyond the Rocky Mountains by Irving, Washington View in context

My swelling heart involuntarily pours itself out thus.

Frankenstein by Shelley, Mary View in context

Although he lay on his left side, never less than twice, and often three and four times, the hurt of the swelling woke him.

Michael, Brother of Jerry by London, Jack View in context

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REFERENCES

Swelling