4: Polymer Characterisation

It is one thing to assert that you have synthesised an inorganic or organometallic polymer, it is another thing to convince your peers that it is a polymer. Polymer characterisation provides data to prove your assertion. Polymer characterisation involves using analytical methods to ascertain the composition, structure, molecular weight, morphology, and bulk macroscopic properties of polymers. Information derived from characterisation studies confirms the polymeric nature of materials and reveals the inherent properties of materials. The studies also provide data to predict the performance of the polymers during use and under specific conditions. In this chapter, we will discuss the various analytical and bioanalytical methods used in polymer characterisation. The chapter will also lay out principles that guide selecting a characterisation method to study a specific property. By the end of the chapter, we expect the student to achieve the learning objectives stated below.