New aspects of determination of polymer heterogeneity by 2‐Dimensional orthogonal liquid chromatography and maldi‐tof‐ MS

Abstract
Liquid Adsorption Chromatography at Critical Conditions (LACCC) of polymers in combination with Matrix‐Assisted Laser Desorption / Ionization Time‐Of‐Flight Mass Spectrometry (MALDI‐TOF‐MS) and different types of detectors is a very convenient method for the characterization of polymer heterogeneities. A pathway for working out these methods is given. Additionally to the coupling of different chromatographic modes a device for post‐column reaction detection is described and applied. Examples of applications are given for aliphatic and aromatic polyesters. MALDI‐TOF‐MS, reaction detection and relations between “critical” solvent composition and structure of polyesters are discussed. Conclusions concerning the mechanism of thermal degradation of polylactides are shown.