Ongoing innovations in synthesis of HMW polymeric materials with multiple uses in water purification, oil&mining, require continuous efforts to extend the limits of the analytical techniques, their resolution, selectivity and ability to cover broader range of applications. New characterization routes are sought to enhance knowledge on properties such molar mass, composition, molecular architecture and structure, for better understanding of their impact on performance.<br/>A review of new and existent techniques for HMW polymer characterization is presented, with highlights from selected case studies focused on challenging features. Separation chromatographic techniques are widely utilized tools for polymer characterization. Thus, size exclusion chromatography (SEC) offers valuable information on molecular weight distributions and details on chain conformation and structure. However, limitations due to exclusion limits, interactions with stationary phase, shear degradation led to the development of additional separation techniques, such as field-flow fractionation (FFF), especially useful in applications on HMW and branched polymers. While FFF continues to grow as complementary technique to established separation methods, the high demand for accurate HMW polymer characterization led to the search and development of alternative, non-separation characterization routes. Moreover, in some cases separation is not possible or needed and batch (unfractionated) characterization is a more suitable approach. Thus, introduction of new automated light scattering & viscosity-based methodologies allows a multi-faceted characterization in terms of polymer characteristics and interactions with environment, as well as following time-dependent processes.<br/>The outcomes of this study are twofold: first, it highlights features of different characterization methods and second, it offers a roadmap for method selection, with the hope that the knowledge gained will lead to increased efficiency and expertise.

Overcoming challenges in high molecular weight (HMW) polymer characterization

255th National Meeting (2018)

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