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Gel permeation chromatography / size exclusion chromatography
Types of Techniques
- Liquid Chromatography Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS)
- Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS)
- High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC)
- Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS)
- Combustion Ion Chromatography (CIC)
- Ion Chromatography
- Gel Permeation Chromatography (GPC) / Size Exclusion Chromatography (SEC)
- Multi-Column Chromatography (MCC)
- LC-Orbitrap
- Accelerator Mass Spectrometry (AMS)
- Nano scale Secondary Ion Mass Spectroscopy
- Secondary-ion mass spectrometry (SIMS)
- SEC-MALS
Gel permeation chromatography (GPC)/ size exclusion chromatography (SEC)
Gel permeation chromatography (GPC), also known as size exclusion chromatography (SEC), is a powerful analytical technique used to determine the molecular weight distribution of polymers. This technique separates molecules based on their size or hydrodynamic volume as they pass through a porous stationary phase. GPC/SEC is widely used in various industries to characterize polymers and ensure product quality.
GPC/SEC operates on the principle of size exclusion, where the polymer molecules are separated based on their hydrodynamic volume or size in solution. The stationary phase consists of porous, inert particles packed into a column. As the sample solution flows through the column, smaller molecules can penetrate the pores of the stationary phase particles, thereby spending more time in the stationary phase and eluting later. Larger molecules, however, are excluded from the pores and elute earlier as they can only pass through the interstitial spaces between the particles.
The separation is achieved based on the different path lengths that molecules of different sizes take through the column. The elution order is from highest molecular weight to lowest, with the largest molecules eluting first and the smallest molecules eluting last. The resulting chromatogram provides information about the molecular weight distribution of the sample, including the weight-average molecular weight (Mw), number-average molecular weight (Mn), and polydispersity index (Mw/Mn).
- Characterization of polymer resins used in aerospace composites
- Analysis of coatings and sealants
- Evaluation of lubricants and greases
- Characterization of automotive plastics and elastomers
- Analysis of coatings and paints
- Evaluation of lubricants and additives
- Characterization of polymers and copolymers
- Analysis of surfactants and emulsifiers
- Evaluation of adhesives and sealants
- Characterization of polymer components and coatings
- Analysis of insulating materials
- Evaluation of adhesives and sealants
- Characterization of explosives and propellants
- Analysis of coatings and paints
- Evaluation of lubricants and greases
- Characterization of polymers used in fuel cells and batteries
- Analysis of lubricants and additives
- Evaluation of coatings and sealants
- Analysis of polymers and materials in forensic investigations
- Evaluation of evidence related to polymer-based products
- Characterization of polymers used in LED packaging
- Analysis of optical coatings and materials
- Evaluation of encapsulants and sealants
- Characterization of polymers used in medical devices and implants
- Analysis of coatings and lubricants
- Evaluation of drug delivery systems
- Characterization of polymers used in drug formulations
- Analysis of excipients and drug-polymer interactions
- Evaluation of drug delivery systems
- Characterization of polymers and polymer precursors
- Analysis of additives and fillers
- Evaluation of processing aids and modifiers
- Characterization of polymers used in microelectronics
- Analysis of coatings and insulating materials
- Evaluation of adhesives and encapsulants
- Characterization of polymers used in data storage media
- Analysis of insulating materials and coatings
- Evaluation of adhesives and sealants
- GPC/SEC offers several advantages, including:
- Well-defined separation time due to the final elution volume for all unretained analytes
- Ability to provide narrow bands for polymer samples with narrow molecular weight distributions
- Low risk of analyte loss due to the lack of chemical or physical interaction with the column
- Convenient method for determining molecular weights of polymers
- Sample volume: 10-500 μL
- Sample concentration: 0.1-10 mg/mL
- Solvent: Appropriate for the polymer and column type