Polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) 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.