The separation of SEC curves of HDPE into flory distributions

Abstract

Abstract A technique is reported here whereby molecular weight distribution curves from size exclusion chromatography (SEC) obtained on high‐density polyethylene (HDPE) can be deconvolved into a series of Flory‐distribution curves using a commercially available computer software system. Our analysis has shown that five to seven individual Flory distributions describe HDPE with better than a 99.9% degree of fit. We impute from this that upon taking proper precautions, we can consider these HDPE resins to be derived from at least this number of distinct catalyst sites and, furthermore, that modification of the sites will lead to a modification of the resultant resin. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.