Polymer characterization by combining liquid chromatography with MALDI and ESI mass spectrometry.

High-performance polymers are complex mixtures of materials of different size and chemical composition and with different end groups and architecture. To determine the molecular heterogeneity of such systems, hyphenation of several techniques is required. The value of coupling mass spectrometry (MS) with separation techniques has already been recognized - such methods have proved to be among the most powerful for molecular characterization of complex polymer systems. The review focuses on matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) and electrospray ionization (ESI) MS coupled with liquid chromatography (LC). Such hyphenation has been used for most polymer analysis by mass spectrometry coupled with separation techniques. The advantages and/or limitations of these techniques for polymer characterization are discussed. Future prospects are briefly outlined.