Fundamentals of static light scattering and viscometry in size-exclusion chromatography and related methods

Some of the fundamentals of light scattering and viscosity are presented, and their applications as SEC detectors discussed and illustrated. Examples of the types of problems that can be solved by multidetector SEC are also given; phase separation in multicomponent systems, and characteristics of multimodal polymer populations. The power of multidetector SEC to characterize polymers far beyond what is possible by conventional column calibration is highlighted. Finally, some recent innovations that use the same type of coupled multiple detectors, but without SEC columns, are briefly surveyed, which allow for powerful alternative and complementary means of characterizing equilibrium and non-equilibrium properties of polymer solutions.