GPC/SEC Analysis of Nylon Using Agilent PLgel Columns with HFIP and m-Cresol Solvents

Analysis of a polymer by the LC technique of GPC/SEC reveals information that influences many of the key physical parameters of such material, including strength, brittleness, melt flow, and how easily the material is processed. As such, GPC/SEC is a very important technique for those synthesizing polymers of all kinds. However, for many polymer systems, the choice of solvent for the analysis is complex. Many polymers are soluble in only a small number of solvents, and the choice of solvent dictates the running conditions of the analysis. Many of the solvents required are exotic by HPLC standards and often are relatively unpleasant to handle and use from a health and safety perspective.