High Performance Size Exclusion Chromatograph with Computerized Data Reduction for Analysis of Polyethylene and Oligomers
Abstract A liquid chromatograph is described for the size exclusion chromatography (SEC) of polyethylene and oligomers. The rigid column packing material was 10 µm diameter porous silica. An infrared spectrophotometer was used as the detector. The chromatograph was designed and operated to minimize the degree of chromatographic peak shape distortion resulting from factors such as system dead volume, detector cell design, sample injection volume, and sample concentration. To compensate for peak spreading and skewing, the chromatographic data were analyzed with an IBM 370/168 computer using an APL program. The molecular weight range covered by this SEC system was 100-500 000. Precision and accuracy of Jhe calculated weight average molecular weight (Mw) values for polyethylene standards over this range were ±3 and s±4%, respectively.