DETERMINATION OF THE DEGREE OF SULFONATION OF SULFONATED POLY(ARYL ETHER SULFONE)

A Raman spectroscopic method has been developed that allows the precis e and rapid determination of the degree of sulphonation (DS) of sulpho nated poly(aryl ether sulphone). The calibration samples were characte rized extensively by several independent reference techniques, It was possible to identify a baseline-separated band being characteristic fo r the sulphonic acid substituent. The assignment of this band was conf irmed by the investigation of corresponding alkali metal salts. The ad vantages of the proposed method over conventional approaches to DS det erminations are discussed. (C) 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.