Characterization of compositional heterogeneity in copolymers and coatings systems by GPC/FTIR

One of the long-sought `holy grails' of polymer characterization has been the simultaneous determination of polymer composition as a function of molecular weight distribution. The recent commercialization of a solvent evaporative interface between a Gel Permeation Chromatograph (GPC) and a Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) Spectrometer has provided one useful solution to the problem of determining polymer composition as a function of molecular weight for a range of polymers. This study will focus on the use of a solvent evaporative interface in conjunction with a GPC-viscometer chromatograph and a FTIR spectrometer in order to provide functional group information as a function of molecular weight. The solvent evaporative interface will be described and its use with a GPC-viscometer/FTIR system will be discussed in terms of operational variable and data analysis considerations. Application of the GPC-viscometer/solvent evaporative interface/FTIR system to a variety of polymer and coatings systems as a tool for product problem solving and elucidation will be presented. In addition, examples of the use of the solvent evaporative interface to elucidate compositional heterogeneity of copolymers will be illustrated. The potential use of the solvent evaporative interface in GPC/LC cross fractionation studies for very fine elucidation of polymer compositional heterogeneity will be discussed.