Author:

Keywords:

poly(ethylene terephthalate), triphenyl phosphite, polyesters, poly(butylene terephthalate), Science & Technology, Life Sciences & Biomedicine, Physical Sciences, Biochemical Research Methods, Chemistry, Analytical, Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Chemistry, 03 Chemical Sciences, 09 Engineering, 10 Technology, Analytical Chemistry, 34 Chemical sciences, 40 Engineering

Abstract:

The performance of a chromatographic technique for polyester analysis at a moderate temperature was investigated. Sample dissolution at room temperature in phenol-1,1,2,2-tetrachloroethane (TCE) and analysis at 70 degrees C in m-cresol, despite the efficiency for pure polyesters, proved to be inadequate for molecular mass determination of polyester/phosphite systems since it causes a rapid degradation of bonds created by the phosphite in the molten state. Furthermore, the presence of three different solvents makes the technique highly complex. Large modifications of the chromatographic conditions result, partly irreversibly, from the injection of samples dissolved in phenol-TCE. A new procedure, working close to room temperature with phenol-TCE eluent, was therefore developed, thus avoiding any polymer degradation and allowing for the study of polyester/phosphite samples by size exclusion chromatography.