An analytical approach to elucidate the architecture of polyethyleneimines
Journal article, 2022

Polyethyleneimine (PEI) is a common polymer used in many industrial applications and in research, especially in surface chemistry. It is available in a wide range of molecular weights and different degrees of branching. It is classified as linear or branched and sometimes the term hyperbranched is also used. This description, however, is quite rough, which limits the possibility to correlate the structure of the PEI to its properties. The aim of this study is to provide analytical tools to characterize the polymer at a level of detail not normally provided by the supplier of PEI. To this end, five commercially available polyethyleneimines were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy to gain insight into the structure and the functional groups present in the polymers. Quantitative 13C NMR analysis turned out to be particularly useful, revealing the degree of branching of the polymer based on the ratio of primary, secondary, and tertiary amino groups.

thermogravimetric analysis

dendrimers

hyperbranched polymers and macrocycles

polyelectrolytes

spectroscopy

Author

Kinga Grenda

Chalmers, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Applied Chemistry

Alexander Idström

Chalmers, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Applied Chemistry

Lars Evenäs

Chalmers, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Applied Chemistry

Michael Persson

Nouryon Pulp and Performance Chemicals AB

Krister Holmberg

Chalmers, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Applied Chemistry

Romain Bordes

Chalmers, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Applied Chemistry

Journal of Applied Polymer Science

0021-8995 (ISSN) 1097-4628 (eISSN)

Vol. 139 7 51657

Subject Categories

Polymer Chemistry

Physical Chemistry

Polymer Technologies

DOI

10.1002/app.51657

More information

Latest update

1/19/2022