A comparison between matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionisation time-of-flight mass spectrometry and size exclusion chromatography in the mass characterisation of synthetic polymers with narrow molecular-mass distributions: Poly(methyl methacrylate) and poly(styrene)

A series of poly(methyl methacrylate)s and poly(styrene)s (masses 1000‐12,000 Da) with narrow molecular-mass distributions have been analysed by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionisation time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry and size exclusion chromatography (SEC). The resultant number average Mn, mass (weight) average Mw, and z average Mz molecular masses as determined from the two techniques are presented and compared. These data show MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry and size exclusion chromatography (SEC) to be in good agreement, typically to within 10% for the analyses of these types of polymers.