Pure and Applied Chemistry

Abstract: This report presents the results from IUPAC Working Party IV.2.2 of the global trial within the framework of IUPAC Commission IV.2, “Characterization of Commercial Polymers”. The results were compared on the basis of molecular weight obtained by size exclusion chromatography (SEC)using different techniques practiced in participating laboratories, the majority of which were materials suppliers. The practical methodologies used different solvents for the polymers, in particular, benzyl alcohol, 1,1,1,3,3,3 hexafluoropropan-2-ol and tetrahydrofuran; the latter solvent was used after chemical modification of the polyamides, in general with trifluoroacetic anhydride. Eight laboratories participated in the trial. The repeatability for molecular weight in each laboratory was good, whatever technique was used, the relative standard deviation averaged over all laboratories being around 3%. The deviations in distribution of molecular weights with different experimental methodologies were broader, but were reasonably good despite the diversity of methods. The differences in the distribution correspond to a confidence interval of about 30% in molecular weight.