# The evaporation of concentrated polymer solutions is insensitive to relative humidity

Source: [The evaporation of concentrated polymer solutions is insensitive to relative humidity](<https://www.sota2.com/research/paper/68fa45c41e209131ce91b232>)

Collection index: [llms.txt](<https://www.sota2.com/research/llms.txt>)

Data updated: 2025-10-25T05:27:52.841Z

Authors: Max Huisman, Paul Digard, Wilson C.K. Poon, Simon Titmuss

Published: 2022-11-30T12:55:52.000Z

## Abstract

A recent theory suggests that the evaporation kinetics of macromolecular solutions is insensitive to the ambient relative humidity (RH) due to the formation of a \`polarisation layer' of solutes at the air-solution interface. We confirm this insensitivity up to RH~80% in the evaporation of polyvinyl alcohol solutions from open-ended capillaries. To explain the observed drop in evaporation rate at higher RH, we need to invoke compressive stresses due to interfacial polymer gelation. Moreover, RH-insensitive evaporation sets in earlier than theory predicts, suggesting a further role for a gelled \`skin'. We discuss the relevance of these observations for respiratory virus transmission via aerosols.

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## Original sources and implementation

[Original paper](<https://arxiv.org/abs/2211.16954>)

[PDF](<https://arxiv.org/pdf/2211.16954.pdf>)