Temperature gradient interaction chromatography (TGIC) analysis of polyisop
rene (PI) is reported. PI can be fractionated in terms of molecular weight
with high resolution by TGIC using a C18 bonded silica column as the statio
nary phase and a mixture of CH2Cl2/CH3CN (80/20, v/v) as the mobile phase.
The temperature was increased during the elution from 5 degrees C to 34 deg
rees C to optimize the fractionation of high molecular weight PI. The relat
ively poor resolution in the low molecular weight range was improved by cha
nging the eluent composition. For example, all the oligomeric species from
the unimer to the 29mer of a low molecular weight PI (average mol. wt.: -90
0) were fully resolved with the mixed eluent of CH2Cl2/CH3CN (50/50, v/v) a
nd a linear temperature program from 5 degrees C to 40 degrees C. In additi
on, simultaneous size exclusion chromatography and TGIC fractionation of PI
/polystyrene, PI/poly(methylmethacrylate) mixtures are also reported.