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Estimation of Polymer Distribution on the Basis of Differences between the Average Molecular Weights of Different Order
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  • Letter
  • Published: 22 January 1949

Estimation of Polymer Distribution on the Basis of Differences between the Average Molecular Weights of Different Order

  • G. HERDAN1 

Nature volume 163, page 139 (1949)Cite this article

  • 365 Accesses

  • 21 Citations

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Abstract

IT is well known that the magnitude of the difference between the number and weight average molecular weight (Mn and Mw) in a polymer affords an indication of the degree of polydispersity. In order to obtain a numerical measure of the spread of molecular weights, and to reconstruct the distribution, the assumption is often made—though admissible only under certain conditions—that the distribution function is that of the log normal law1–3, where the ratio between averages (the rth roots of the rth moments about zero) of successive order is an exponential function of the logarithm of the geometric standard deviation, which is equal to the standard deviation of the logarithmic distribution.

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References

  1. Lansing, W. D., and Kraemer, E. O., J. Amer. Chem. Soc., 57, 1369 (1935).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Schulz, G. V., J. für. Makromolekulare Chemie, 1 (June 1944).

  3. Jullander, J., Ark. Kem. Min. Geol., Stockholm., 21, A, No. 8 (1945).

  4. Weatherburn, C. E., "A First Course in Mathematical Statistics", 32 (Cambridge Univ. Press, 1947).

    Google Scholar 

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Preventive Medicine, University of Bristol,

    G. HERDAN

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  1. G. HERDAN
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HERDAN, G. Estimation of Polymer Distribution on the Basis of Differences between the Average Molecular Weights of Different Order. Nature 163, 139 (1949). https://doi.org/10.1038/163139a0

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  • Issue date: 22 January 1949

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/163139a0

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This article is cited by

  • Inequalities between Average Molecular Weights of Polymers, and their Relations to the Distribution Function

    • G. HERDAN

    Nature (1949)

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