Theory

Viscotek specializes in Gel Permeation Chromatography (GPC), Flow Injection Polymer Analysis (FIPA), Dilute Solution Viscosity (DSV) and Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS) technologies for macromolecular characterization. As a group, these solution techniques provide a wealth of information on physical properties and critical insight on macromolecular structure and behavior.

Gel Permeation Chromatography 

GPC Theory

RI Detector
Viscometer Detector
Light Scattering

Gel Permeation Chromatography (GPC), also known as Size Exclusion Chromatography (SEC), is a chromatographic technique that employs specialized columns to separate natural and synthetic polymers, biopolymers and nanoparticles on the basis of size. 

As the sample is separated and elutes from the GPC column, it can be characterized by a single concentration detector (Conventional Calibration) or series of detectors (Universal Calibration and Triple Detection).

When the GPC separation is coupled with advanced detectors such as light scattering, viscometer and concentration detectors, it will provide a distribution of absolute molecular weight, molecular size, and intrinsic viscosity as well as information on macromolecular structure, conformation aggregation and branching.

Flow Injection Polymer Analysis

Flow Injection Polymer Analysis (FIPA) is also a chromatographic technique that separates natural and synthetic polymers, biopolymers and nanoparticles on the basis of size. It employs the same advanced detectors and hardware as GPC but provides an average molecular weight, size and intrinsic viscosity as opposed to a distribution of these properties.

In FIPA, the polymeric materials of interest are separated from the low molecular weight constituents in the sample and by the FIPA column and then analyzed in a batch-like mode.

The simplified separation scheme in FIPA allows for a fast, accurate and precise measurement of the macromolecule’s physical characteristics.

Dilute Solution Viscometry

Dilute Solution Viscosity (DSV) is a measurement of the relative viscosity of a macromolecule or polymeric material in solution. It is termed relative since it is a ratio of the viscosity of the sample versus the viscosity of the solvent. Once the relative viscosity is known, the inherent, intrinsic, reduced and absolute viscosity can be calculated.

The Viscotek relative viscometer is unique because its proprietary technology provides the viscosity of the solvent and the sample simultaneously, eliminating many of the common concerns and sources of error found in capillary glass tube determinations.

For more details and price, please contact MD Scientific at info@md-scientific.dk or +45 7027 8565.

Top