GPC (Gel Permeation Chromatography), also called Size Exclusion Chromatography (SEC), provides molecular weight data of polymers by separating analytes according to size.

A type of liquid chromatography, samples are typically dissolved in an organic solvent before filtering the solution and injecting it into a chromatography column.  A molecular weight sensitive detector then monitors the concentration by weight of polymer in the eluting solvent.

Gel Permeation Chromatography offers:

• Identification of molecular weight distribution
• Separation of different molecular weight polymers
• Little chance of analyte loss occurring.

Typical Applications

• Characterization of polymers (e.g. viscosity, strength)
• Understanding of polymer performance
• Analysis of polymer wearing and degradation
• Development of new products (understanding how polymers behave)
• QA / QC during polymer production.

Typical Industries using GPC:

• Polymer manufacturers / processors
• Medical device manufacturers who use polymers (e.g. in catheters)
• Bone cement manufacturers
• Consumer health
• Packaging manufacturers.