Laser light-scattering molecular weight analysis of a poly(fluoro acrylate)

Two leading macromolecular characterization techniques were employed for analysis of a unique, difficult to dissolve fluorinated polymer system (PFA), Poly(N-methyl perfluoroocytyl sulfonamido ethyl acrylate). Multiangle Laser Light Scattering (MALLS) and Viscosity-Right Angle Laser Light Scattering (RALLS) were used to measure the weight-average molecular weight and molecular size-radius using the solvent HFIP, 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoroisopropanol. HFIP is shown to be an excellent solvent for light scattering measurements on the PFA as well as on Polyamide-11 and Polymethyl methacrylate. It is shown that the Viscosity-RALLS approach gives results that differ from the MALLS system due to the assumptions used. It is also shown that the addition of salt does affect the molecular weight dependence of the radius of gyration but not the value of M-w. (C) 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.