- Polymer fractionation
Polymer s are chainlikemolecule s that are made of the same repetition unit. Aside from few exceptions (e.g.protein s) polymers consist of molecules with different chain lengths. Therefore average values are given for the molecular weight like the number average, the weight average or theviscosity average molar mass. A measure for the width of the molecular weight distribution is thepolydispersity index . The targeted manipulation of the molecular weight distribution of a polymer by removing short and/or long chain material is called polymer fractionation.Reasons for polymer fractionation
The molecular weight of polymers has a large influence on their properties and therefore determines the applications. Among others the flow behavior, the
solubility , the mechanical properties but also the life time are influenced by the molecular weight. For high duty polymers – polymers that have to fulfill elevated demands – not only the molecular weight but also the molecular weight distribution is important. This especially holds true if low and/or high molecular material disturbs a given task.Analytical Methods
Polymers can be fractionated on an analytical scale by
size exclusion chromatography (SEC),Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) orField Flow Fractionation (FFF). These methods are used to determine the molecular weight distribution.Preparative Methods
In most cases the fractionation of polymers on a preparative scale is based on chromatographic methods (e.g. preparative SEC or
Baker-Williams fractionation ). Therefore the production is normally limited to few grams only. For large scales of several grams up to kg or even tons the “Continuous Spin Fractionation” can be used. F. Francuskiewicz gives an overview about preparative polymer fractionation.Literature
* M.J.R Cantow "Polymer Fractionation" Academic Press, New York (1967)
* L.H. Tung "Fractionation of Synthetic Polymers" Marcel Dekker, New York (1977)
* F. Francuskiewicz "Polymer Fractionation" Springer, Berlin (1994)
* R. Koningsveld, L.D. Kleintjens, H. Geerissen, P. Schützeichel, B.A. Wolf „Fractionation“ in: "Comprehensive Polymer Science Volume 1" Pergamon Press, Oxford (1989) 293-312External links
* http://www.wee-solve.de - WEE-Solve GmbH: Service provider for polymer fractionation
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