Malvern described how advanced multi-detection SEC systems can be used in the characterisation of copolymers.
Homopolymer molecular weight distributions are routinely characterised using Size Exclusion / Gel Permeation Chromatography (SEC/GPC), by comparing the elution profile of the unknown polymer to that of a known standard.
The approach, called column calibration, can be avoided, through the use of advanced multi-detection SEC systems, such as the Viscotek TDAmax, which integrates a light scattering detector with a concentration detector (RI or UV) to generate an absolute molecular weight measurement for each slice of the chromatogram.
The application note, which can be downloaded above, looks at how this technique can be used in the characterisation of copolymers.
