IDENTIFICATION OF STYRENE COPOLYMERS AND A TERPOLYMER BY 2ND DERIVATIVE ULTRAVIOLET SPECTROSCOPY

A method for distinguishing styrene copolymers and a terpolymer by second derivative ultraviolet spectroscopy will be described. The polymers were dissolved in chloroform except for one which was dissolved in 2-butanone. Concentrations of about 5 g/L were used. The polymer solutions were applied to the removable windows of divided, quartz cells and were allowed to dry to a thin film. The ultraviolet region was scanned from 300 to 230 nm. Then thinner films were used, and the 240-200 nm region was scanned. The second derivative spectra that resulted could be distinguished easily. This technique allows rapid, sample preparation and identification of these copolymers and the terpolymer.