Abstract

AbstractThe theory of the equilibrium distribution of a mixture of different size species of a polymer between two liquid phases is reviewed and used as a basis for the calculation of the dependence of fractionation efficiency on overall concentration, interaction coefficient (hence, choice of solvent and temperature), average molecular weight, and the spread of the molecular weight distribution in the polymer. The special case of a single type of polymer in a single solvent, for which the polymer–solvent interaction coefficient is independent of concentration, is dealt with quantitatively. The ultimate aim is to make it possible to determine systematically the optimum solvent (or mixture of solvents), temperature, and overall concentration for fractionation of a given type of polymer, having a given average molecular weight and molecular weight distribution, considering practical limitations, e. g., the total volume which can conveniently be handled and the time required to achieve a sufficiently close approach to equilibrium.

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