Fractionation and characterization of phenolic resins by high-performance liquid chromatography and gel-permeation chromatography combined with ultraviolet, refractive index, mass spectrometry and light-scattering detection

HPLC and gel permeation chromatographic (GPC) characterization of complex phenol-formaldehyde resins is described. Reversed-phase HPLC fingerprints the phenolic monomers, dimers and some oligomers. The molecular masses of these phenolic compounds were determined using an ion trap mass spectrometer. GPC analyzes tetrahydrofuran-soluble phenolic polymers beyond HPLC capability. The molecular mass distribution and structural information of the phenolics was determined by both conventional and laser light-scattering calibration methods. GPC with both W and refractive index detection provides weight concentration of phenolic resin and the molar concentration of the phenol unit in the oligomers or polymers. (C) 2001 Thiokol Propulsion. Published by Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.