Abstract:
Time-resolved gel-permeation chromatography (GPC) profiles were measured over a long period of time (t=0-768 h) for the HNO3 -catalyzed reaction mixture of a well-defined polymeric silane coupling agent, triethoxysilyl-terminated polystyrene. The results showed that HNO3 catalyzes the rate of polymerization, but only to a small extent. Two-dimensional (2-D) GPC correlation spectra were calculated from time-resolved GPC profiles and were used to examine the mechanism of polymerization. The resolution enhancement obtained by 2-D correlation provided ample evidence for existence of four monomeric components. It has been demonstrated that dynamic variation in the population of these components occurs over a long reaction time, reflecting the mechanism of a slow polymerization process.
