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Testing & Analysis Techniques

Gel Permeation Chromatography (GPC Analysis)

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.

GPC - At a Glance

  • Equipment: Agilent 1260 Infinity
  • Information: Molecular size distribution
  • Sample Prerequisites: Soluble in appropriate solvent
  • Flow Rate of Sample: ~1.0ml min-1
  • Common Analytes: Polymers, proteins
  • Output: Separation by molecular size and refractive index of separations