Crystallization Elution Fractionation and Thermal Gradient Interaction Chromatography. Techniques Comparison.

Polyolefin Characterization – ICPC 2010. Macromolecular Symposia.
Volume 312, 2012, Pages 115-129.
B. Monrabal, N. Mayo, R. Cong.
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Abstract:

The chemical composition distribution has been shown to be the most critical and discriminating parameter in understanding the performance of industrial polyolefins with non-homogeneous comonomer incorporation. The chemical composition distribution is being analyzed by well known techniques such as temperature rising elution fractionation, TREF, crystallization analysis fractionation, CRYSTAF and crystallization elution fractionation, CEF. These techniques separate according to crystallizability and provide a powerful and predictable separation of components based on the presence of branches, irregularities or tacticity differences, independently of the molar mass. TREF, CRYSTAF and CEF can not be used, however, for the separation of more amorphous resins, and may not always provide the best solution for complex multi-component resins due to the existence of some co-crystallization.

The application of high temperature interactive HPLC to polyolefins opened a new route to characterize these types of polymers. The use of solvent gradient HPLC for separation of polyethylene and polypropylene and the developments in HPLC on carbon-based columns extended further the application of high temperature HPLC in polyolefins. A new approach has been developed using the carbon-based column but replacing solvent gradient by a thermal gradient which facilitates the analysis of polyethylene copolymers and provides a powerful tool for the analysis of elastomers. Thermal gradient interaction chromatography (TGIC) is being compared with TREF and CEF with the analysis of model samples. The advantages/disadvantages of each technique are being investigated and discussed. The combination of TGIC and TREF/CEF provides an extended range of separation of polyolefins.