Examples of Solubility Parameters

taken from "Solubility of Polymers", Encyclopedia of Polymer Technology, 2nd. Ed.

chemical            solubility    
                     parameter

decafluorobutane      10.6
neopentane            12.9  A           A letter next to the solvent
n-hexane              14.9  A        solubility parameter indicates
diethyl ether         15.1           that the polymer corresponding
cyclohexane           16.8  A        to the letter (listed below)
carbon tetrachloride  17.6  A B      dissolves in the solvent.
benzene               18.8  A B
chloroform            19.0  A B C
methyl ethyl ketone   19.0    B C
actone                20.3    B C
carbon disulfide      20.5
1,4-dioxane           20.5    B C
dimethylformamide     24.8    B C (D) (at high temperatures only)
m-cresol              27.2    B C D
formic acid           27.6    B   D
methanol              29.7
water                 47.9

A  Poly(isobutylene)              16.2
B  Poly(methylmethacrylate)       18.6
C  Poly(vinyl acetate)            19.2
D  Poly(hexamethylene adipamide)  27.8

Data from Patrick, "Treatise on Adhesion and Adhesives: Vol. 1" Marcel Dekker, New York- 1967

Poly(tetrafluoroethylene) (Teflon(tm))       6.2
Poly(ethylene)                               7.9
Poly(styrene)                                9.1
Poly(vinyl Chloride)                         9.7
Poly(vinylidene Chloride)                   12.2
Poly(ethylene Terephthalate)                10.7
Poly(hexemethylene Adipamide)               13.6

Data from J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 5(15), 339 (1961)

solvent nature         delta   nature of hydrogen bonding

n-Hexane               7.4     poor        (Encyc. Polym. Tech. reports 14.9)
Diethyl Ether          7.4     moderate    (Encyc. Polym. Tech. reports 15.1)
Diisobutyl Ketone      7.8     moderate    
Cyclohexance           8.2     poor        (Encyc. Polym. Tech. reports 16.8)
Carbon Tetrachloride   8.6     poor        (Encyc. Polym. Tech. reports 17.6)
Toluene                8.9     poor 
4-Heptanone            8.9     moderate
Methyl Hexyl Ketone    8.9     moderate
Chloroform             9.3     poor
Methyl Ethyl Ketone    9.3     moderate
2-Ethyl Hexanol        9.5     strong
Ethylene Dichloride    9.8     poor
Acetone               10.0     moderate
Nitropropane          10.4     poor
2-Ethyl Butanol       10.5     strong
Methyl Cellosolve     10.8     moderate
Nitroethane           11.1     poor
n-Butanol             11.4     strong
Isopropanol           11.5     strong
Acetonitrile          11.9     poor  
Ethanol               12.7     strong 
Propylene carbonate   13.3     moderate
Methanol              14.5     strong
Ethylene carbonate    14.7     moderate
Water                 23.4     strong      (Encyc. Polym. Tech reports 47.9)


                          In nearly every case Encyc. Polym. Tech's number
                          is double the number given here by an article in JAPS.

Note on the graph below that there is a somewhat linear trend between the Hildebrand solubility parameter and the critical surface tension.