Characterization of structure of comblike polymer by pyrolysis gas chromatography and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy

The characterization of branching in comblike polymers using high-resolution pyrolysis gas chromatography (HRPGC) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) is investigated. The branching type can be identified from characteristic peaks of monomer and a group of dimers in pyrograms derived from alpha- and beta -scission of branched atoms. By resolving the overlapping bands between 2800-3000 cm(-1), the relative absorbance of CH2 can be used to calculate the average branch length L. This method is helpful in evaluating the property of drag-reduction agents. (C) 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.