COLUMN LIQUID-CHROMATOGRAPHY IN POLYMER DEGRADATION STUDIES

Column liquid chromatography performed on polymer samples subjected to degradation reactions makes up an important source of information for determining the polymer degradation mechanisms. In the present paper it is shown how molecular weight distribution changes and formation of new compounds due to degradation reactions can be conveniently analyzed by size exclusion and adsorption/partition chromatography. The sensitivity and uniqueness of the approach is demonstrated with proper examples. Particularly, it is reported how liquid chromatography has been helpful in establishing the presence of weak links in polystyrene samples, in modelling the thermal degradation mechanisms of poly(alpha-methyl styrene) and of poly(methyl methacrylate), in showing the occurrence of termination reactions by radical coupling in poly(methyl methacrylate) samples and the influence of acrylonitrile content on the degradation of styrene-acrylonitrile copolymers.