CHROMATOGRAPHIC CHARACTERIZATION OF COMPLEX POLYMER SYSTEMS WITH THERMAL FIELD-FLOW FRACTIONATION

Thermal field-flow fractionation (TFFF) coupled with multi-angle laser light scattering (MALLS) is a promising quantitative method for deter mining the molecular-weight distribution (MWD) of complex polymers and their aggregates. This paper describes the application of TFFF-MALLS to linear polystyrene as well as highly cross-linked microgel and sulf onated polystyrene samples. In addition, the chromatographic character ization of block copolymer micelles with different core chemistry is p erformed. The dependence of retention volume on the mass diffusion coe fficient D and the thermal diffusion coefficient D-T was confirmed. It is shown that D-T, as predicted by theory, depends only on the solven t, being independent of both molecular weight and structure.