Characterization of complex polymer systems by size exclusion chromatography — homopolymers with long chain branching and copolymers with composition drift

Abstract

Problems associated with the characterization by size exclusion chromatography (SEC) of complex polymers, polymers for which a unique relationship between size and molecular weight does not exist, are considered. An attempt is made to develop a general methodology for the SEC of these polymers. This includes generalized universal molecular weight calibration, corrections for imperfect resolution and the use of multidetector systems, including low angle laser light scattering photometry, viscometry and UV and IR spectrophotometry. Included are examples of the estimation of branching frequency and sequence length across the SEC chromatograms of branched homopolymers and copolymers. © 1982 IUPAC