AbstractTetrahydrofuran solutions of resole polymers were analyzed by gel permeation chromatography (GPC) on crosslinked polystyrene gel packings. The best separation was obtained with low solvent flow rates in low porosity columns. Irregular elution volumes were observed, but the effects of this erratic behavior can be eliminated by referencing retention times to that of a marker compound such as benzene or phenol. A calibration and data analysis method are presented which utilizes hydrodynamic volumes. Phenolic polymers vary in shape and ability to form hydrogen bonds with solvent; hence their molecular weights cannot be estimated from GPC data. Separation of the constituent species of resole samples is shown to be incomplete, because of aggregation between the various phenol derivatives. Particular peaks in the GPC chromatogram could generally not be assigned to individual species. Despite these limitations, GPC is a useful tool for charcterizing phenolics, and several applications are reviewed here.
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