Characterisation of molecular weight and compositional heterogeneity in block copolymers

A gel permeation chromatography (GPC) system, using two concentration detectors and a low angle laser light scattering (LALLS) detector, has been investigated for use in characterising copolymers. At each elution volume, the system allows the calculation of molecular weight, average composition, and compositional heterogeneity. Overall molecular weight, composition, and heterogeneity parameters can also be calculated. This characterisation method yields heterogeneity information previously unobtainable without the use of cross fractionation techniques which are far more time consuming but ultimately more thorough. [Continues.]