ABSTRACT
The presence of functional groups in oligomer molecules imposes specific requirements on these methods, especially on gel permeation chromatography. Besides those considered above, other differences from polymers are also characteristic of oligomers, associated with the existence of a dependence between the main physico-chemical properties and the degree of polymerization, which plays a significant role in determining the MWD parameters by fractionation methods. The problem must be stated in a way that would allow making a comparison, based on the oligomerization process model, between the theoretical molecular weight distribution functions and those found experimentally, and their conformity must serve as the measure of understanding the process mechanism. Quantitative data on the MWD of oligobutadienes have thus made it possible to draw the conclusion that the process of their production by the anionic polymerization of butadiene follows the mechanism of ‘living’ polymers.
