Identification of block copolymers and determination of their purity by thin-layer chromatography

Abstract

The application of adsorption, precipitation and extraction thin-layer chromatography to the identification of block copolymers, determination of their homogeneity (mixtures of homopolymers), and evaluation of their compositional homogeneity by one- and two-dimensional, multistage and gradient methods, is described. To detect the polymers on the thin-layer plate, various methods of detection are used, including those specific for each component of the block copolymer. Examples of analysis of the following block copolymers by thin-layer chromatography are reported: PS—PMMA, PS—PB, PS—PAN, PS—PBG, PI—PMS—PI, PMMA—PBMA, PMMA—PBG, PS—PEO.