Polymer Fractionation

Book excerpt: Polymer Fractionation focuses on the processes, reactions, and transformations involved in polymer fractionation, including chromatography, titration, and sedimentation. The selection first offers information on theoretical considerations and fractional precipitation. Topics include polydispersity of high polymers, phase relations for polydisperse systems, fractionation theory and efficiency, and fractionation by solvent evaporation. The manuscript then takes a look at fractional solution, chromatographic fractionation, and gel permeation chromatography. The book elaborates on thermal diffusion and turbidimetric titration, as well as methods of fractionation, studies of the variables, outline of the method and range of application, and elaboration of the method. The text then ponders on sedimentation, isothermal diffusion, and summative fractionation. Discussions focus on mathematical interpretation of summative data, experimental methods for the determination of diffusion constants, and methods for the determination of the diffusion coefficient distribution. The selection is a valuable source of information for readers interested in polymer fractionation.