Characterization of branched polymers

Most long-chain-branched polymers occurring in practice are formed by proce sses statistical in nature and this results in substances highly nonuniform in molecular weight, number of branch points per molecule, and in the arch itecture of molecules with a particular number of branch points. The most r eliable information on the degree of branching is obtained by determining t he weight-average molecular weight, by light scattering, and the intrinsic viscosity, and by comparing the intrinsic viscosity with that of a linear p olymer with the same weight-average molecular weight. If an appropriate mod el exists for the particular polymer, its more detailed description may be possible.