An approach to a simplified universal calibration for gel permeation chromatography

Criteria for establishing a universal GPC calibration for poly‐1,2‐butadiene on the basis of polystyrene standards are considered. The number‐average molecular weights of the two polymers are related by a linear expression on the assumption that their respective Mark‐Houwink exponents are equal. The coefficient C n of this expression, determined from GPC and viscosity measurements, remained constant for a considerable range of molecular weights and polydispersities. The applicability of C n beyond the interval of present measurements is considered on the basis of results in the literature. The results are comparable to those obtained from a universal calibration based on the unperturbed dimension of polymer chains, but do not agree with those obtained from a model based on extended length.