SIZE-EXCLUSION CHROMATOGRAPHY OF SUBSTITUTED ACETYLENE POLYMERS - EFFECT OF AUTOOXIDATIVE DEGRADATION OF THE POLYMER DURING THE ANALYSIS

The degradation of poly (phenylacetylene), a typical autoxidatively de gradable polymer of substituted acetylene, is shown to take place insi de the SEC (size exclusion chromatography) columns during the polymer analysis carried out with eluent (THF) not protected from air. Three t ypes of experimental evidence are given based on the comparison of res ults of SEC analyses carried out: (i) with the eluent kept under air o r argon atmosphere; (ii) with different flow rates of the eluent; and (iii) with and without the interruption of the analysis for a few hour s. Other degradable polymers of substituted acetylene are mentioned an d recommendations for their SEC analyses are given.