ABSTRACT
Asymmetrical flow field-flow fractionation (AF4) was used as a fractionation technique to investigate the molecular heterogeneity of poly(styrene-b-isoprene) diblock copolymers synthesized by either sequential living anionic polymerization or coupling of living precursor blocks. AF4 coupled to multi-angle laser light scattering (MALLS), refractive index (RI), and ultraviolet (UV) detectors was used to separate the diblock copolymers from the homopolymers and coupling products, and the molar masses of the different components were analyzed. In order to get more information about the separated block copolymers, homopolymers, and coupling products, fractions were collected directly after the AF4 channel. The collected fractions were analyzed offline by (1)H NMR to provide identification of the different species and additional information on the true chemical composition, and the microstructure of the diblock copolymer was obtained.
ABSTRACT
Thermal field-flow fractionation (ThFFF) is used as a novel fractionation technique to investigate the molecular heterogeneity of PB-b-PVP-b-PtBMA triblock copolymers. Such copolymers cause major problems in liquid chromatography due to very strong polar interactions with the stationary phase. ThFFF separates the copolymers with regard to size and/or chemical composition based on the normal and thermal diffusion coefficients. The separation mechanism in ThFFF and the chemical composition of the separated species is elucidated by online (1) H NMR. Based on the compositional analysis and a calibration of the system with the respective homopolymers, the samples are quantified regarding their molar masses, chemical compositions, and microstructures providing comprehensive information on the complex structure of these block copolymers.
