We recently published a paper in Macromolecules that discusses methods to quantify the swelling and diffusion processes that occur when oil paint films are exposed to solvents. Using time-dependent ATR-FTIR spectroscopic data, we developed a mathematical model that describes the spread of solvent through a paint film. While it proved difficult to predict diffusion rates based on solvent properties, strong swelling and fast diffusion seem to go hand in hand.
