Molecular weight and solution viscosity characterization of PVC

As a means of developing the most accurate possible Mark‐Houwink relationship possible for PVC, the literature Mark‐Houwink coefficients for the weight average molecular weight ( M W ) of PVC in THF are plotted and the derived “grand average” Mark‐Houwink relationship ( K = 15.56 × 10 −3 ml/g, a = 0.7690) is shown. High pressure‐size exclusion chromatography (HP‐SEC) data from two independent laboratories was used along with the “grand average” Mark‐Houwink coefficients to calculate absolute number of average molecular weight ( M N ) and weight average molecular weight values for PVC. An easy‐to‐use table has been developed to detail the relationships between M N , M W , K value, and inherent viscosity (I. V.).