Polymer analysis

A method for determining the relative concentration of a component in a polymer which is soluble only above about 150.degree. C., said method comprising the steps of:

• injecting a desired volume of a sample of said polymer into a carrier fluid at a time T.sub.1, wherein said injection is accomplished at a first temperature and wherein said carrier fluid is a solvent for said polymer;
• heating said carrier fluid containing said sample of said polymer until said polymer is completely in solution, wherein the temperature at which said polymer is soluble in said carrier fluid (second temperature) is greater than said first temperature;
• providing the heated carrier fluid containing said sample of said polymer in solution to the fluid inlet of the first one of a plurality of chromatographic columns in series to thereby provide said sample of said polymer to the fluid inlet of said first one of said plurality of chromatographic columns in series, wherein said plurality of chromatographic columns are maintained at at least said second temperature;
• and
• providing said carrier fluid from the fluid outlet of the last one of said plurality of chromatographic columns in series to the fluid inlet of a detector capable of providing an output signal which is responsive to the concentration of components of said polymer, wherein said detector provides an output signal at time T.sub.2 which is responsive to the relative concentration of the component of said polymer in said detector at said time T.sub.2 and wherein said time T.sub.2 is later in time than said time T.sub.1.