Polystyrene (PS) Standards

Chromatographic determinations of the molecular weight (MW) properties of polymers, either in organic or aqueous phase, rely on calibration with Standards of highly characterized MWs for accurate results. Expressed simply, Size Exclusion (or Gel Permeation) Chromatography enables polymer molecules of different sizes in solution to be separated from one another, such that the large molecules elute first and small molecules elute last. Since the molecular size in solution (hydrodynamic volume) is related to MW, a picture of the entire MW Distribution (MWD) may be obtained quickly and simply. This is in great contrast to the “absolute” techniques of MW determination which frequently could take half a day per sample to define a single average MW. Polymer Standards are thus an integral part of any quantitative Size Exclusion Chromatography. These Standards need to be highly characterized by as many absolute and chromatographic techniques as possible to define the MW averages and MWD.

Shodex HPLC Catalog

Polystyrene (PS) Standard Manual