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TOSOH Analysis & Research Cases
Super high-temperature GPC response for PPS / polymerized PBT / insoluble resins, etc.
Providing a competitive edge in analysis through the use of exclusive, globally sourced solvents.
Introduction to TOSOH Analysis and Research Center
1.Company Introduction
TOSOH Analytical Center is helping to solve customers’ problems through analysis technologies for various materials such as inorganic/organic/polymer/bio. Composition analysis, quantitative analysis, morphology observation/measurement, structural analysis, foreign substance analysis, material properties, environmental analysis, GPC, chemical decomposition, etc., are available.
We have a large number of analytical equipment including GPC / GPC-MALS / NMR / DSC, SEM, TEM, etc. In particular, we are responding to super high-temperature GPC for PPS / polymerized PBT / insoluble resins, etc., and providing competitive analysis response using rarely available solvents. (not available in Korea and many countries)
2. GPC of Insoluble Resins
- Algaline Hydrolysis
- Raw material analysis of polyurethane
2. Analysis of micro plastics
- Chemical structure and size distribution analysis of micro plastics by imagine FT-IR
- Degradation analysis of micro plastics by GPC and FT-IR
2. Cellulose CNF
1) Analysis case of molecular weight distribution measurement of cellulose materials by GPC
The molecular weight (degree of polymerization) of cellulose is deeply related to the heterogeneity of the crystalline or amorphous regions, which affects physical properties such as fluidity, processability, mechanical properties, and optical properties.
Even in the process of manufacturing cellulose derivatives, molecular weight is an important parameter. As a molecular weight measurement method for cellulose, the viscosity method is generally used. The viscosity method can obtain the average molecular weight, but not the molecular weight distribution. The GPC method can obtain both the average molecular weight and the molecular weight distribution. Here, we will introduce an example of evaluating the molecular weight distribution of cellulose materials using the GPC method.
Analysis Case
For commercially available cellulose materials, the results of evaluating the molecular weight distribution curve by GPC are shown in Figure 1.
From the molecular weight distribution curve obtained from the GPC method, visual and intuitive information regarding molecular weight can be obtained.
The average molecular weight (Mw) obtained from the GPC method can be converted into the average degree of polymerization (DPw) by dividing it by 162, the molecular weight of the glucose unit.
[Figure 1] Molecular weight distribution curves of various celluloses Application field: Molecular weight, degree of polymerization Material keywords: Cellulose, pulp, linter, cellophane
2. Cellulose CNF
1) GPC measurement of cellulose nanofibers (CNF) by GPC
Cellulose nanofibers (CNF) have excellent thickening properties, nano-dispersibility, and reinforcing effects, and are expected to be new nanomaterials. As a method for measuring the molecular weight of CNF, the viscosity method is generally used. However, while the average molecular weight can be obtained by the viscosity method, the molecular weight distribution cannot be obtained.
Compared to this, the GPC method can obtain all information about the average molecular weight and the molecular weight distribution. From the molecular weight distribution curve obtained by the GPC method, visual information can also be obtained.
Analysis Case
For two types of CNF, the molecular weight and molecular weight distribution were measured by the GPC method. The results are shown in Figure 1. In Figure 1, it was revealed that not only the weight-average molecular weight (Mw) and molecular weight distribution (Mw/Mn) of the two types were different, but CNF-A had a shoulder peak on the low molecular weight side. As described above, using the GPC method, it is possible to confirm whether even identical-looking CNFs have different average molecular weights or molecular weight distributions depending on the product.
Application field: GPC, SEC
Material keywords: Cellulose nanofibers, CNF, cellulose
To confirm the change in molecular weight at the stages from the raw material of CNF to the final CNF, the molecular weight was measured using the GPC method. The three samples used this time were the raw material, an intermediate product, and CNF. The obtained results are shown in Figure 1.
In Figure 1, it can be seen that during the process of manufacturing CNF from the raw material, the high molecular weight component tends to decrease, whereas the molecular weight on the low molecular weight side hardly changes.
Figure 2 shows the changes in weight-average molecular weight (Mw) and z-average molecular weight (Mz), which are sensitive to the presence of high molecular weight components. In Figure 2, both Mw and Mz decreased according to the manufacturing process, but it can be seen that the decrease is particularly significant for Mz, which is highly sensitive to ultra-high molecular weight components.
Figure 2 Changes in Mw and Mz from CNF raw material to CNF
As such, measuring the molecular weight using GPC makes it possible to reveal what kind of molecular weight change occurs in the manufacturing process.
Application field: GPC, SEC
Material keywords: Cellulose nanofibers, CNF, cellulose
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