Basic Chemistry of Polystyrene

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MOLECULAR WEIGHT

Figure 3.8. Typical molecular weight distribution curve of polystyrene.

[From Schulz and Dinglinger, Z. physik. Chem. 43B, 47 (1939).]

merization is shown in Figure 3.8, where the weight fraction

of polystyrene of a particular molecular weight is plotted as

a function of molecular weight. A sample of polystyrene can be

separated into fractions by fractional precipitation, a process

based on the principle Jhat the solubility of polystyrene de-

crealesIwEer^^

amount of a nonsolvent such as met&nol is added to a solu-

tion of polystyrene, the highest molecular weight material_pre-

cipitates first. This is separated, more methanol is added2and

the next fraction, of lower molecular weight, precipitates. The

process is repeated until a large number of fractions is obtained.,

Number average molecular weights can be measured by

osmotic pressure methods; weight averages can be measured

by light-scattering methods. Since these methods are time

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