Fractionation of Poly(dimethyl siloxane) by interaction chromatography

Abstract

Poly(dimethyl siloxane) (PDMS) was characterized by interaction chromatography using C4-bonded silica and a mixture of THF/CH3OH as the stationary phase and the mobile phase, respectively. Under the separation condition, a commercial PDMS with broad molecular weight distribution was successfully fractionated according to molecular weight into fractions with a very narrow molecular weight distribution. The IC separation could be applied to more rigorous characterization of PDMS, modified PDMS, and block copolymer-containing PDMS.