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 M_n, mass (weight) average M_w, and z average M_z 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.