Identification of styrene copolymers and a terpolymer by second derivative ultraviolet spectroscopy

A method for distinguishing styrene copolymers and a terpolymer by second derivative ultraviolet spectroscopy will be described. The polymers were dissolved in chloroform except for one which was dissolved in 2-butanone. Concentrations of about 5 g/L were used. The polymer solutions were applied to the removable windows of divided, quartz cells and were allowed to dry to a thin film. The ultraviolet region was scanned from 300 to 230 nm. Then thinner films were used, and the 240–200 nm region was scanned. The second derivative spectra that resulted could be distinguished easily. This technique allows rapid, sample preparation and identification of these copolymers and the terpolymer.