Characterization of branched ultrahigh molar mass polymers by asymmetrical flow field-flow fractionation and size exclusion chromatography

The molar mass distribution (MMD) of synthetic polymers is frequently analyzed by size exclusion chromatography (SEC) coupled to multi angle light scattering (MALS) detection. For ultrahigh molar mass (UHM) or branched polymers this method is not sufficient, because shear degradation and abnormal elution effects falsify the calculated molar mass distribution and information on branching. High temperatures above 130 °C have to be applied for dissolution and separation of semi-crystalline materials like polyolefins which requires special hardware setups. Asymmetrical flow field-flow fractionation (AF4) offers the possibility to overcome some of the main problems of SEC due to the absence of an obstructing porous stationary phase. The SEC-separation mainly depends on the pore size distribution of the used column set. The analyte molecules can enter the pores of the stationary phase in dependence on their hydrodynamic volume. The archived separation is a result of the retention time of the analyte species inside SEC-column which depends on the accessibility of the pores, the residence time inside the pores and the diffusion ability of the analyte molecules. The elution order in SEC is typically from low to high hydrodynamic volume. On the contrary AF4 separates according to the diffusion coefficient of the analyte molecules as long as the chosen conditions support the normal FFF-separation mechanism. The separation takes place in an empty channel and is caused by a cross-flow field perpendicular to the solvent flow. The analyte molecules will arrange in different channel heights depending on the diffusion coefficients. The parabolic-shaped flow profile inside the channel leads to different elution velocities. The species with low hydrodynamic volume will elute first while the species with high hydrodynamic volume elute later. The AF4 can be performed at ambient or high temperature (AT-/HT-AF4). We have analyzed one low molar mass polyethylene sample and a number of narrow distributed polystyrene standards as reference materials with known structure by AT/HT-SEC and AT/HT-AF4. Low density polyethylenes as well as polypropylene and polybutadiene, containing high degrees of branching and high molar masses, have been analyzed with both methods. As in SEC the relationship between the radius of gyration (R(g)) or the molar mass and the elution volume is curved up towards high elution volumes, a correct calculation of the MMD and the molar mass average or branching ratio is not possible using the data from the SEC measurements. In contrast to SEC, AF4 allows the precise determination of the MMD, the molar mass averages as well as the degree of branching because the molar mass vs. elution volume curve and the conformation plot is not falsified in this technique. In addition, higher molar masses can be detected using HT-AF4 due to the absence of significant shear degradation in the channel. As a result the average molar masses obtained from AF4 are higher compared to SEC. The analysis time in AF4 is comparable to that of SEC but the adjustable cross-flow program allows the user to influence the separation efficiency which is not possible in SEC without a costly change of the whole column combination.     

The measurement of mass and size distributions,conformation, and branching of important food polymers by mals following sample fractionation

Three distinctive food polymers (ultra high molar mass amylopectin, guar gum, and hemi-cellulose) were chosen as model samples to illustrate the use of multi angle light scattering (MALS) detection in conjunction with size exclusion chromatography (SEC) separations for the characterization of such macromolecules. By combining SEC and MALS, absolute molar mass, rms radius and their distributions can be measured readily without reference to any molar mass standards and without the need to make structural assumptions. In addition, the conformation and branching of those polymers can be derived also.     

Optimisation of ambient and high temperature asymmetric flow field-flow fractionation with dual/multi-angle light scattering and infrared/refractive index detection

Asymmetric flow field-flow fractionation (AF4) enables to analyse polymers with very high molar masses under mild conditions in comparison to size exclusion chromatography (SEC). Conventionally, membranes for AF4 are made from cellulose. Recently, a novel ceramic membrane has been developed which can withstand high temperatures above 130 °C and chlorinated organic solvents, thus making it possible to characterise semicrystalline polyolefins by HT-AF4. Two ceramic membranes and one cellulose membrane were compared with regard to their quality of molar mass separation and the loss of the polymer material through the pores. Separating polystyrene standards as model compounds at different cross-flow gradients the complex relationship between cross-flow velocity, separation efficiency, the molar mass and peak broadening could be elucidated in detail. Moreover, the dependence of signal quality and reproducibility on sample concentration and mass loading was investigated because the evaluation of the obtained fractograms substantially depends on the signal intensities. Finally, the performance of the whole system was tested at high temperature by separating PE reference materials of high molar mass.     

Branched-polymer separations using comprehensive two-dimensional molecular-topology fractionation x size-exclusion chromatography

Branching has a strong influence on the processability and properties of polymers. However, the accurate characterization of branched polymers is genuinely difficult. Branched molecules of a certain molecular weight exhibit the same hydrodynamic volumes as linear molecules of substantially lower weights. Therefore, separation by size-exclusion chromatography (SEC), will result in the co-elution of molecules with different molecular weights and branching characteristics. Chromatographic separation of the polymer molecules in sub-microm channels, known as molecular-topology fractionation (MTF), may provide a better separation based on topological differences among sample molecules. MTF elution volumes depend on both the topology and molar mass. Therefore co-elution of branched molecules with linear molecules of lower molar mass may also occur in this separation. Because SEC and MTF exhibit significantly different selectivity, the best and clearest separations can be achieved by combining the two techniques in a comprehensive two-dimensional (MTFxSEC) separation system. In this work such a system has been used to demonstrate branching-selective separations of star branched polymers and of randomly long-chain-branched polymers. Star-shaped polymers were separated from linear polymers above a column-dependent molecular weight or size.     

Analysis of polyamides by size exclusion chromatography and laser light scattering

The molar mass analysis of polyamides is complicated due to the fact that only a limited range of solvents can be used and association and aggregation phenomena have to be screened by adding electrolytes to the mobile phase. Optimum SEC behaviour is obtained when hexafluoroisopropanol + 0.05 mol/L potassium trifluoroacetate is used as the mobile phase. The calibration of the SEC system can be conducted in different ways. While a calibration with narrow disperse polymethyl methacrylate standards does not yield accurate molar mass information, the quantification can be done using an “artificial” calibration curve. This calibration curve is obtained by correcting the PMMA calibration curve with polyamide molar mass data from light scattering. The resulting molar mass distributions for different types of polyamides are compared with molar masses that are determined by size exclusion chromatography with a light scattering detector and an excellent correlation is obtained.     

An SEC/MALS study of alternan degradation during size-exclusion chromatographic analysis

Ultrahigh-molar-mass (M) polymers such as DNA, cellulose, and polyolefins are routinely analyzed using size-exclusion chromatography (SEC) to obtain molar mass averages, distributions, and architectural information. It has long been contended that high-M polymers can degrade during SEC analysis; if true, the inaccurate molar mass information obtained can adversely affect decisions regarding processing and end-use properties of the macromolecules. However, most evidence to the effect of degradation has been circumstantial and open to alternative interpretation. For example, the shift in SEC elution volume as a function of increased chromatographic flow rate, observed using only a concentration-sensitive detector, may be the result of degradation or of elution via a nondegradatory slalom chromatography mechanism. Here, using both concentration-sensitive and multiangle static light-scattering detection, we provide unambiguous evidence that the polysaccharide alternan actually degrades during SEC analysis. The decrease in molar mass and size of alternan with increasing flow rate, measured using light scattering, allows ruling out an SC mode of elution and can only be interpreted as due to degradation. These findings demonstrate the extreme fragility of ultrahigh-M polymers and the care that must be taken for accurate characterization. Figure Scission of alternan chains in liquid chromatography.     

Molar mass characterization of cationic methyl methacrylate-ethyl acrylate copolymers using size-exclusion chromatography with online multi-angle light scattering and refractometric detection

Size-exclusion chromatography (SEC) combined with online multi-angle light scattering (MALS) and refractometric (RI) detection has been employed for the molar mass characterisation of water-insoluble cationic methyl methacrylate-ethyl acrylate copolymers (Eudragit RS and RL). Due to their positive charge, cationic polymers are particularly difficult to separate on a SEC column, in worst cases being completely adsorbed on the oppositely charged packing material. This work has examined how a careful addition of salt (LiCl) to the copolymer solution in ethanol decreases the electrostatic interactions, clearly seen as a decrease in elution volume from the SEC column as well as an improved recovery. At a certain level of ionic strength, typically about 50 mM, the copolymer recovery from the SEC column reached 100% and molar mass distributions corresponding to the complete sample could be obtained. The combined MALS/RI detection gives the opportunity to measure the absolute molar mass independent of recovery and retention. Thus, in this study, it turned out to be a favourable tool for tracing the changes in elution behaviour of the charged copolymer as the ionic strength was increased.     

Comprehensive two-dimensional liquid chromatography for the characterization of functional acrylate polymers

Comprehensive two-dimensional liquid chromatography-size-exclusion chromatography (LC x SEC) was investigated as a tool for the characterization of functional poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) polymers. Ultraviolet-absorbance and evaporative light-scattering detection (ELSD) were used. A simple method to quantify ELSD data is presented. Each data point from the ELSD chromatogram can be converted into a mass concentration using experimental calibration curves. The qualitative and quantitative information obtained on two representative samples is used to demonstrate the applicability of LC x SEC for determining the mutually dependent molar-mass distributions (MMD) and functionality-type distributions (FTD) of functional polymers. The influence of the molar mass on the retention behavior in LC was investigated using LC x SEC for hydroxyl-functional PMMA polymers. The critical conditions, at which retention is--by definition--independent of molar mass, were not exactly the same for PMMA series with different end-groups. Our observations are in close agreement with theoretical curves reported in the literature. However, for practical applications of LC x SEC it is not strictly necessary to work at the exact critical solvent composition. Near-critical conditions are often sufficient to determine the mutually dependent distributions (MMD and FTD) of functional polymers.     

Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionisation time-of-flight characterisation of biodegradable aliphatic copolyesters

Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionisation time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF) and the off-line size exclusion chromatography matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionisation (SEC/MALDI) method has been applied to the structural characterisation and the molar mass (MM) determination of a series of biodegradable copolyesters synthesised by high temperature melt polycondensation reaction, and of two commercial copolyesters with the trade name Bionolle. The MALDI-TOF spectra of these copolymers showed the presence of cyclic oligomers in the lower mass region, in accord with expectations from polycondensation kinetics, and the presence of all linear species expected from their method of synthesis. The presence of unexpected linear species with olefin and carboxyl as end groups suggested the occurrence of undesirable thermal degradation processes during the melt polycondensation reaction. The absolute average molar masses obtained by the SEC-MALDI method turned out to be lower, by a factor of about two for succinate/adipate copolymers, and by a factor of three for succinate/sebacate copolymers, with respect to those computed by using polystyrene standards in SEC. Furthermore, the MALDI-TOF spectra of SEC fractions allowed not only the detection of linear and cyclic oligomers contained in these samples, but also the simultaneous determination of the average molar mass of both cyclic and linear oligomers. Due to the smaller hydrodynamic volume of cyclic chains with respect to linear ones, the ratio (M( cycle)/M( linear))( Ve) at a fixed elution volume was found to be 1.25, in good agreement with the theoretical value of 1.24. Copyright 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Molar mass distributions by gradient liquid chromatography: predicting and tailoring selectivity

Interactive liquid chromatography (iLC) for polymer analysis is usually applied to the characterisation of distributions other than molar mass. In particular, its use for the determination of chemical-composition, functionality-type and tacticity distributions has been demonstrated. The application of iLC for the determination of molar mass distributions (MMDs), however, has not yet been fully explored. An expanded version of the reversed-phase liquid chromatography model has been developed to describe and predict how the retention behaviour of polydisperse polystyrene samples changes with molar mass. The relationship between molar mass and the parameters of the model has been investigated in some detail and non-linear correlations were found. From the model and the relationships between the model parameters and molar mass, calibration curves (retention time versus molar mass) were constructed to predict changes in chromatographic selectivity across a given molar mass range. These calibration curves were compared to experimentally obtained curves and, in most cases, excellent agreement was found. The dramatic enhancement in selectivity that can be obtained with iLC in comparison to size-exclusion chromatography (SEC) was illustrated by measuring matrix-assisted laser desorption ionisation (MALDI) MS spectra of fractions collected during a gradient-LC separation. In the low-molar mass range, essentially monodisperse fractions were obtained. Calibration curves, predicted by the model and validated experimentally using narrow-dispersity standards and MALDI-MS spectra of fractions, were used to determine the molar mass distribution of some narrowly distributed polystyrene samples. Molar mass distributions for such standards were found to be somewhat lower than the values reported by the manufacturers. The results also deviated from those obtained by MALDI-MS.     

Synthetic and characterization aspects of dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate reversible addition fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization

2‐cyanoprop‐2‐yl dithiobenzoate (CPDB) mediated RAFT polymerization of dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate (DMAEMA) was carried out in dioxane at 90 °C. The influence of several parameters, such as the monomer to CPDB molar ratio (100 to 500), the monomer concentration (2 mol·L^?1 to 5.9 mol·L^?1), and CPDB to initiator molar ratio (1 to 10), was evaluated with regards to conversion and polymerization duration, as well as control of molar mass and molar mass distributions. Number average molar masses from 10,000 to 70,000 g·mol^?1 can be targeted. The determination of the molar masses has been carried out by size exclusion chromatography (SEC) with a refractometer detector with poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) standards. The experimental values were lower than the expected ones. Then, SEC in aqueous medium with an online laser light scattering detector was used both to get absolute molar masses and to recalibrate the SEC column in THF. Characterization of well‐controlled PDMAEMA samples has been performed by proton NMR spectroscopy and matrix assisted laser desorption ionization time of flight mass spectrometry. Finally, a chain extension experiment was evaluated with regard to living features. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 43: 3551–3565, 2005     

The size exclusion chromatography calibration of ‘Mixed-A’ and ‘Mixed-D’ columns using various polymers and compounds: An application to coal-derived materials

This work attempts to obtain the calibration curves of two different size exclusion chromatography (SEC) columns operating with 1-methyl-2-pyrrolidinone (NMP) as eluent by using various standards. Polystyrene (PS) and polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) standards were used for obtaining calibration curves, and checked against polysaccharide (PSAC) standards, some small aromatic polycyclic standards and miscellaneous polymers. Polystyrenes and polymethylmethacrylates gave identical calibrations while polysaccharides and miscellaneous polymers lay within 1 or 2 min of the polystyrene calibration. Small molecules of mass less than 1000 units lay on or near to the polystyrene calibration lines, with a shift to late elution for the smallest molecules. This shift may be caused by the interaction with the column packing. A sample has been examined by analytical size exclusion chromatography, which was calibrated using polystyrene and polymethylmethacrylate standards. Molecular mass (MM) distributions of the sample have been examined in terms of these calibrations.     

Liquid chromatography of polymers under limiting conditions of desorption II. Tandem injection and quantitative molar mass determination

Liquid chromatography under limiting conditions of desorption (LC LCD) is a method which allows molar mass independent elution of various synthetic polymers. A narrow, slowly moving zone of small molecules, which promotes full adsorption of one kind of polymer species within column (an adsorli) acts as an impermeable barrier for the fast moving macromolecules. The latter accumulate on the barrier edge and elute nearly in total volume of liquid within column. At the same time, transport of less adsorptive macromolecules is not hampered so that these are eluted in the size exclusion (SEC) mode. As result, polymers differing in their polarity and adsorptivity can be easily separated without molar mass interference. Three methods of barrier creation are discussed and compared. It is shown that a fraction of sample may elute unretained if the adsorli sample solvent is used as a barrier in connection with a narrow-pore column packing. One part of excluded macromolecules likely breaks-out from the adsorli zone and this results in partial loss of sample and distortion of the LC LCD peaks. This problem can be avoided if the adsorli zone is injected immediately before sample solution. Applicability of the LC LCD method for polymer separation has been demonstrated with a model mixture of poly(methyl methacrylate) (adsorbing polymer) and polystyrene (non adsorbing polymer) using bare silica gel as a column packing with a combination of tetrahydrofuran (a desorption promoting liquid -a desorli) and toluene (adsorli). It has been shown that the LC LCD procedure with tandem injection allows simple and fast discrimination of polymer blend components with good repeatability and high sample recovery. For quantitative determination of molar masses of both LC LCD and SEC eluted polymers, an additional size exclusion chromatographic column can be applied either in a conventional way or in combination with a multi-angle light scattering detector. A single eluent is used in the latter column, which separates the mixed mobile phase, system peaks and the desorli zone from the polymer peaks so that measurements are free from disturbances caused by the changing eluent composition. The resulting LC LCD x SEC procedure has been successfully applied to poly(methyl methacrylate) samples.     

Two‐dimensional chromatography as a tool for studying band broadening in size‐exclusion chromatography

Comprehensive 2‐D size‐exclusion chromatography (SEC×SEC) has been realized. SEC×SEC is not a useful technique for characterizing complex polymers. However, it is potentially an elegant tool to study band‐broadening phenomena. If narrow fractions can be collected from the first dimension, the band broadening in the second dimension is only due to chromatographic dispersion. This would allow a clear distinction to be made between chromatographic band broadening (column and extra‐column) and SEC selectivity (band broadening due to sample polydispersity). In comparison with MALDI‐MS, SEC×SEC allows the study of polymers across a much broader molar‐mass range.     

Weighing synthetic polymers of ultra‐high molar mass and polymeric nanomaterials: What can we learn from charge detection mass spectrometry?

Advances in soft ionization techniques for mass spectrometry (MS) of polymeric materials make it possible to determine the masses of intact molecular ions exceeding megadaltons. Interfacing MS with separation and fragmentation methods has additionally led to impressive advances in the ability to structurally characterize polymers. Even if the gap to the megadalton range has been bridged by MS for polymers standards, the MS‐based analysis for more complex polymeric materials is still challenging. Charge detection mass spectrometry (CDMS) is a single‐molecule method where the mass and the charge of each ion are directly determined from individual measurements. The entire molecular mass distribution of a polymer sample can be thus accurately measured. Described in this perspective paper is how molecular weight distribution as well as charge distribution can provide new insights into the structural and compositional studies of synthetic polymers and polymeric nanomaterials in the megadalton to gigadalton range of molecular weight. The recent multidimensional CDMS studies involving couplings with separation and dissociation techniques will be presented. And, finally, an outlook for the future avenues of the CDMS technique in the field of synthetic polymers of ultra‐high molar mass and polymeric nanomaterials will be provided.     

Characterizing property distributions of polymeric nanogels by size-exclusion chromatography

Nanogels are highly branched, swellable polymer structures with average diameters between 1 and 100nm. Size-exclusion chromatography (SEC) fractionates materials in this size range, and it is commonly used to measure nanogel molar mass distributions. For many nanogel applications, it may be more important to calculate the particle size distribution from the SEC data than it is to calculate the molar mass distribution. Other useful nanogel property distributions include particle shape, area, and volume, as well as polymer volume fraction per particle. All can be obtained from multi-detector SEC data with proper calibration and data analysis methods. This work develops the basic equations for calculating several of these differential and cumulative property distributions and applies them to SEC data from the analysis of polymeric nanogels. The methods are analogous to those used to calculate the more familiar SEC molar mass distributions. Calibration methods and characteristics of the distributions are discussed, and the effects of detector noise and mismatched concentration and molar mass sensitive detector signals are examined.     

Analytical techniques for polymers with complex architectures

Complex polymers are distributed in more than one direction of molecular heterogeneity. In addition to the molar mass distribution, they are frequently distributed with respect to chemical composition, functionality, and molecular architecture. For the characterization of the different types of molecular heterogeneity it is necessary to use a wide range of analytical techniques. Preferably, these techniques should be selective towards a specific type of heterogeneity. The combination of two selective analytical techniques is assumed to yield a two-dimensional information on the molecular heterogeneity. For the analysis of complex polymers different liquid chromatographic techniques have been developed, including size exclusion chromatography (SEC) separating with respect to hydrodynamic volume, and liquid adsorption chromatography (LAC) which is used to separate according to chemical composition. Liquid chromatography at the critical point of adsorption (LC-CC) has been shown to be a versatile method for the determination of the functionality type distribution of macromonomers, the molecular architecture of homopolymers and the chemical heterogeneity of block and graft copolymers. The present paper presents the principle ideas of combining different analytical techniques in multidimensional analysis schemes for the analysis of polymers with complex architectures. Branched block and graft copolymers can efficiently be analyzed with respect to chemical composition and molar mass by LC-CC and two-dimensional chromatography. The chemical heterogeneity as a function of molar mass can be determined by combining interaction chromatography and FTIR spectroscopy. For the analysis of star-like polymers LC-CC is shown to be a powerful technique when the molar mass of different segments (blocks, grafts) must be determined.     

Determining the molar mass of a plasma substitute succinylated gelatin by size exclusion chromatography-multi-angle laser light scattering,sedimentation equilibrium and conventional size exclusion chromatography

The clinical effectiveness of succinylated gelatin as a plasma substitute depends strongly on its molar mass, determined conventionally by size exclusion chromatography (SEC). This study evaluates different SEC calibration standards in comparison with two independent "absolute" methods for determining the weight average molar mass (M(w)) of a succinylated gelatin sample. SEC calibrated using succinylated gelatin fractions correlated well with size exclusion chromatography-multi-angle laser light scattering (SEC-MALLS) and sedimentation equilibrium whereas SEC calibrated with unmodified gelatin, sodium polystyrene sulfonates or pullulans overestimated M(w) by over 20%. Universal calibration was equivocal. The problems associated with the preparation of succinylated gelatin fractions suggest that an absolute method such as SEC-MALLS may be a more suitable choice for determining the M(w) in succinylated gelatins.     

Determination of the molecular mass distribution of synthetic polymers by size-exclusion electrochromatography

The performance of size-exclusion electrochromatography (SEEC) for the mass distribution analysis of synthetic polymers was studied and compared to conventional, pressure-driven size-exclusion chromatography (SEC). Electroosmotic flow control, within-day, day-to-day and column-to-column repeatability were determined for SEEC with respect to retention and separation efficiency. It was shown that by using the retention ratio instead of the migration time, the precision of the mass distribution calculations is sufficiently high, and that similar distributions were obtained for a sample analyzed by pressure-driven SEC and by SEEC. Furthermore, hexafluoroisopropanol was demonstrated to be a new and potent solvent for SEEC. It was used for the separation of narrow polymethylmethacrylate standards and several commercially important polymers such as polycarbonate, polycaprolactam and poly(ethylene terephthalate), using UV detection in the deep UV region (195-230 nm).     

(Supercritical) Ammonia for Recycling of Thermoset Polymers

Chemical recycling of thermosetting bisphenol-A-polycyanurate, triphenylisocyanurate and of N-phenylmaleimide (pPMI) as well as 4,4′-methylenbis- (4-N-phenylmaleimide) (pBMI) has been studied. Polycyanurate thermosets undergo ammonolytic degradation to the level of oligomeric soluble products already at room temperature, complete degradation to bisphenol-A and melamine, however requires supercritical conditions (160 °C) and longer reaction times. Polyimides prepared by free radical polymerisation after ammonolysis at 160 °C give the corresponding amines and linear polymers with unsubstituted imide and diamide units. SEC of the polymer analogous (with respect to the carbon chain) reaction products and of linear pPMI shows that the polymers have a polymodal molar mass distribution with a high molar mass and an oligomeric fraction.