Hydrophobic Polymers: HFIP Eluent

Refractory polymers are usually analyzed using a high-temperature SEC system. However, the high-temperature SEC system is rather expensive and not so easy to use. Since HFIP (hexafluoroisopropanol) dissolves refractory polymers at ordinary temperature, such polymers are preferably analyzed with HFIP eluent without using high-temperature SEC systems. SEC is a method using the principle that larger molecular size (three dimensional volume) of the sample elutes faster. In fact, the actual molecular size of the sample is different according to the solvent in which the sample is dissolved. In case of polymers with ionic functional groups, these groups are repelling each other and the apparent molecular size of the polymers becomes larger. For preventing such ionic interaction, the addition of CF₃COONa (sodium trifluoroacetate) to HFIP is recommended.
For the analysis of polyamides or poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET), the use of HFIP eluent containing CF₃COONa is also recommended.
(Refer to Polyamide (1) Nylon6 (HFIP-806M))

(Preparation of the eluent)
Since CF₃COONa is not easily dissolved in HFIP, care should be taken to confirm that it has been thoroughly dissolved, otherwise it may damage the columns.
Method for preparing the eluent is as follows:
1) Weigh necessary amount of CF₃COONa and dissolve it in HFIP applying ultrasonic vibration. The bottle should be shaken often to ensure thorough ultrasonic vibration.
2) Ultrasonic vibration should be applied for the following time: 10mM CF₃COONa in HFIP: 60 min. or more, 5mM CF₃COONa in HFIP: 40 min. or more