The signifcance of sample preparation of historical and contemporary poly(vinyl chloride) objects to investigate the distribution and changes of molar mass by SEC-MALS-dRI

Rijavec, Tjaša (author), Pawcenis, Dominika (author), Kruczała, Krzysztof (author), Strlič, Matija (author), Kralj Cigić, Irena (author)

The distribution of molar mass of historical and contemporary poly(vinyl chloride) objects was determined using size exclusion chromatography with multi-angle light scattering detection. The weight average molar mass was determined for a collection of 57 samples, ranging from 75 to 186 kg/mol with a median of 102 kg/mol. Rigid PVC objects were found to have a signifcantly lower weight average molar mass ($M_w$ =81 kg/mol) than plasticized ones ($M_w$ =102 kg/mol). Thin objects also exhibited signifcantly lower $M_w$ than bulky objects. A substantial presence of aggregates was noted and characterized as an‘aggregate ratio’ for the entire collection. Heating a solution of poly(vinyl chloride) in THF at 55 °C for 5 h proved successful in the dissociation of the aggregates and allowed for an accurate determination of molar mass. The uncertainty of the $M_w$ determination was statistically evaluated and used to study the efects of accelerated degradation on $M_w$. No statistically signifcant changes in Mw were observed in samples artifcially aged at 50 °C to 80 °C for up to 15 weeks, indicating that $M_w$ does not decrease during degradation of a PVC heritage object and that accelerated degradation does not lead to polymer crosslinking.

• Language: English
• Keywords: aggregates, association, size-exclusion chromatography, gel-permeation chromatography, PVC, heritage collection, heritage science
• Work type: Article
• Typology: 1.01 - Original Scientific Article
• Organization: FKKT - Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Technology
• Publication status: Published
• Publication version: Version of Record
• Publication date: 28.07.2023
• Year: 2023
• Number of pages: 12 str.
• Numbering: Vol. 11, art. 155
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-148211
• UDC: 543.54:678.743.2:7.025
• ISSN on article: 2050-7445
• DOI: 10.1186/s40494-023-01003-5
• COBISS.SI-ID: 160389891
• Publication date in RUL: 02.08.2023

Record is a part of a journal

• Title: Heritage science
• Shortened title: Herit. sci.
• Publisher: Springer Nature
• ISSN: 2050-7445
• COBISS.SI-ID: 36621317

Licences

• License: CC BY 4.0, Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
• Link: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
• Description: This is the standard Creative Commons license that gives others maximum freedom to do what they want with the work as long as they credit the author.

Secondary language

• Language: Slovenian
• Keywords: agregati, asociacija, velikostno izključitvena kromatografija, PVC, zbirke dediščine, dediščinska znanost