Extraction fractionation of polyvinyl acetate and of polyvinyl alcohol

Abstract

Abstract Methods for rapid fractionation of polyvinyl acetate and of polyvinyl alcohol are described. By a slightly modified Fuchs' extraction technique, polyvinyl acetate can be fractionated into relatively homogeneous fractions. The ratio of osmotically determined M̄ n of the nonfractionated sample to that calculated from fractionation data is 1.19. Extraction fractionation of polyvinyl alcohol is complicated by the crystallinity of this polymer. The molecular weight distribution of polyvinyl alcohol can be determined, however, in relatively short time, by first reacetylating the polymer and then fractionating the obtained polyvinyl acetate.