This volume provides a unique interdisciplinary insight into the principal characterization techniques available for determining the size of macromolecules in solution, their sequence structures, and molecular weight characterisitics. Presenting the most recent advances in the field, it discusses conventional chromatographic techniques, spectroscopic techniques which describe sequence structure, and scattering techniques for determining macromolecular size. The coverage of molar mass characterization is equally suitable to synthetic or biological polymers.

From the Preface: “Recognition of macromolecules as a distinct state of matter owes much to the availability of various techniques for molar mass characterisation. In recent years, significant progress has been made into refining and developing these techniques so as to provide the experimentalist with both a more precise and more detailed picture of the products of their synthetic efforts. Traditionally, the effect of molar mass has been identified through changes in properties such as melting point, boiling point, vapour pressure and related phenomena...”

Target Audience: Polymer chemists, engineers and technologists; biologists and scientists in numerous allied disciplines; and upper level students.

Table of Contents:

Tempertaure Rising Elution Fractionation — 1

Temperature Rising Elution Fractionation — 2

Field Flow Fractionation

Static and Dynamic Light Scattering

Neutron Reflection Studies of Polymers

Neutron Scattering Studies of Polymer Dynamics

Small-Angle Neutron Scattering

Recent Advances in Mass Spectrometry of Polymers

Vapour Pressure Osmometry/Membrane Osmometry/Viscometry

Gel Electrophoresis of Biological Macromolecules

Ultracentrifugation and Sedimentation

Terminology for Polymer Chemistry

Colligative Properties

Index