Comparison of Molecular Weight Moments from MALDI-TOF-MS With Other Absolute Methods on a Standard Reference Polymer

Published

October 12, 2021

Author(s)

Kathleen M. Flynn, William R. Blair, P O. Danis

Abstract

Matrix Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization (MALDI) Time of Flight (TOF) Mass Spectrometry was used to study the molecular weight distribution (MWD) and the number of α-methyl styrene (α-MeSty) repeat units in SRM 1487, a narrow MWD poly (methyl methacrylate) standard reference material of about 6300 g/mole which was initiated with α-MeSty. It was found that each PMMA polymer chain had from zero to seven alpha-MeStys per chain. The MWD of the polymer chains containing a fixed number of α-MeStys was obtained. The MWD, M_w and the average number of α-MeSty at a given molecular weight from MALDI TOF MS compare well with those obtained from more traditional methods like ultracentrifugation and Size Exclusion Chromatography (SEC).

Citation

ANTEC Conference Proceedings

Pub Type

Journals

Keywords

copolymer, copolymer distribution, mass spectroscopy, materials, matrix assisted laser desorption, molecular weight distribution, PMMA, poly(methyl methacrylate), {alpah}-methyl styrene initiation

Citation

Flynn, K. , Blair, W. and Danis, P. (2021), Comparison of Molecular Weight Moments from MALDI-TOF-MS With Other Absolute Methods on a Standard Reference Polymer, ANTEC Conference Proceedings (Accessed October 17, 2025)