Apparatus for method for polymer characterization

An apparatus for the method of GPC/TREF characterization of a polymer sample, which apparatus comprises the following:

• one gel permeation chromatography column, or a series of linear mixed bed GPC columns, which gel permeation column(s) is/are in liquid communication with at least two TREF columns, arranged in parallel, and located downstream from the gel permeation column(s), and a flow-through detector, and
• wherein each GPC column comprises a means to introduce a sample of polymer, to be characterized, into a stream of eluent, flowing through the column, to produce successive elution volumes;
• and
• a means to introduce a first elution volume from the GPC column into a first of said at least two TREF columns at an elevated temperature, and
• a means to introduce a second elution volume from the GPC column into a second of said at least two TREF columns at an elevated temperature, and
• wherein each TREF column comprises a means for introducing a solvent stream into the TREF column, a means for cooling the TREF column to precipitate polymer in the elution volume, a means for heating the TREF column to dissolve the polymer precipitated, therein, into said introduced solvent stream to perform elution, and a means for flowing the stream of solvent, from the TREF column, through the flow-through detector, to detect the polymer in the stream of solvent;
• and wherein said apparatus further comprises a means of equilibrating the temperature of the solvent introduced into each TREF column to the temperature of the TREF column during elution.