Fractionation and characterisation of bisphenol a polycarbonate by gel permeation chromatography

Bisphenol A polycarbonate was fractionated from methylene chloride solution by a progressive precipitation technique. The intrinsic viscosities of these fractions were obtained in methylene chloride solution and corresponded to a viscosity average molecular weight range of 2 × 103 to 80 × 103. The fractions were used to calibrate a gel permeation chromatograph, an experimental Q‐factor of 23.8 was found. The calibration was further confirmed by membrane osmometry and light scattering experiments. The experimental viscosity data demonstrated that the Kurata‐Stockmayer‐Roig relationship is suited to interpret the molecular expansion of polycarbonate in methylene chloride.