Determination of molecular-weight distribution and average molecular weights of block copolymers by gel-permeation chromatography

The problem of preparation of a block copolymer of precise molecular-weight distribution (MWD) and with heterogeneous composition on the basis of gel-permeation chromatography (GPC) data has been investigated. It has been shown that in MWD calculations the distribution f(p) of the composition p in individual GPC fractions should be taken into account. The type of the f(p) functions can be simultaneously established by an independent method, such as use of adsorption-column or thin-layer chromatography sensitive to the composition of the copolymer. It has also been shown that the actual f(p) may be replaced by a corresponding piecewise distribution, of simple form, without decrease in the precision of calculation of the MWD and average molecular weights of most known block copolymers.