Novel developments in the multidimensional characterization of segmented copolymers

In this review article, recent developments in multidimensional characterization of segmented copolymers are presented. Liquid chromatography (LC) is the most widely used and versatile polymer fractionation technique to address different aspects of copolymer heterogeneity. The potential and limitations of different modes of liquid chromatography of polymers (size exclusion chromatography, different modes of interaction chromatography) and spectroscopic techniques (FTIR, NMR, and MALDI-TOF-MS) are elaborated. Possible method combinations including comprehensive two-dimensional LC and the hyphenation of various modes of LC with spectroscopic techniques are discussed. Advantages and limitations of various off-line and on-line approaches to method hyphenation are highlighted. Examples from recent literature with special focus on segmented copolymers (e.g. block, graft, miktoarm, multibranched or star copolymers) will be reviewed.