The main subject of this book is the characterization of plastics. To a high degree the properties
of these polymers depend on the distribution of the molar mass and of other structural
features. Small contributions frequently have a great effect. The characterization of polymers
cannot be restricted to the determination of mean values but must yield information on
these distributions. Using classical methods, the analytical fractionation of polymer homologues
and structurally isomeric polymers is extremely time-consuming. Therefore efficient
chromatographic techniques are being increasingly employed in modern polymer characterization.
In the first place, HPLC is applied in the form of size exclusion chromatography (gel
permeation chromatography), but it is also possible to use other separation mechanisms.
In this volume, more space is devoted to these possibilities than is merited by their current
range of application, since the author believes that many a problem of characterization
that still exists, besides the determination of the molar mass distribution, will be solved
by separation techniques of the non-exclusion types. Nevertheless, the relative importance
of size exclusion chromatography will not only be preserved but may even increase because
of its use to complement other chromatographic techniques.