Polyethylene Branching Analysis by NMR

Chain Branching in Polyethylene

Low Density (LDPE)

Linear Low Density (LLDPE)

13C NMR can be used to determine the nature of an unknown polyethylene (HDPE, LDPE, LLDPE) and can identify and quantify the types of branching present. The figures shows an LDPE which contains a number of different types of branches (methyl, ethyl, butyl, pentyl and hexyl and longer) and an LLDPE, prepared from ethylene and hexane-1 which contains only butyl branching