Size Exclusion Chromatography of Poly(Ethylene Terephthalate) Using o-Chlorophenol

Abstract

Abstract Ortho-chlorophenol (OCP) has previously been reported as one component in mixed solvent systems for the size exclusion chromatography of poly (ethyiene terephthalate) (PET)1,2, In order to avoid the problems involved in maintaining mixed solvents, a technique has been developed to analyze PET in OCP alone. The system has been calibrated using narrow polystyrene and broad PET standards. Problems addressed include the high viscosity and high refractive index of OCP, solvent purity, sample preparation, and sample degradation. The system has been used to investigate the hydrolysis and degradation of PET during extrusion processes.