Characterizing synthetic polymers by MALDI MS.

Different polymer formulations possess unique chemical, physical, and mechanical properties. Small variations in the structure of a given polymer formulation can significantly change its characteristics, resulting in new functions and applications. For example, polyvinyl alcohol is a water-soluble synthetic polymer made by alcoholysis of polyvinyl acetate. Its chemical and physical properties depend on the degree of polymerization and the percentage of alcoholysis. Water solubility increases as molecular weight decreases; however, properties such as viscosity, strength, and flexibility improve with increasing molecular weight. Therefore, it is important to control and monitor the parameters that affect the final properties during the development and manufacture of polymers for specific applications.