STUDY OF THERMAL-DIFFUSION OF POLYBUTADIENE AND POLYTETRAHYDROFURAN IN VARIOUS ORGANIC-SOLVENTS

The thermal diffusion coefficient (Dr) was determined for polybutadien e and polytetrahydrofuran (i.e., polyoxytetramethylene) standards of d ifferent molecular masses in various organic solvents. The combination of thermal field-flow fractionation retention data with diffusion dat a from dynamic light scattering or diffusion NMR experiments yielded t he thermal diffusion coefficients. In agreement with earlier work on t hermal diffusion of polymers in solution, the thermal diffusion coeffi cient was found to be independent of the molecular mass of the polymer s. However, this work once more indicates that the Dr value is strongl y influenced by the chemical composition of both the polymer and the s olvent. (C) 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.