Reasons to upgrade from single to multi-detector GPC

The top ten reasons to consider an advanced multi-detector GPC system, which incorporates light scattering detectors for the measurement of absolute molecular weight and molecular weight distribution with excellent accuracy.

Gel-permeation chromatography (GPC) is an essential tool for the characterization of polymers. It allows polymer scientists to tailor a polymer’s properties to its end use requirements by controlling its molecular properties, since the two are inextricably linked. For example, increasing a polymer’s molecular weight can increase its strength but there are many other effects that the molecular properties can have on the bulk ones. Table 1 gives an example of the connections although the real links will be specific to each polymer under study.

Table 1: Effect of molecular weight, polydispersity and structure on the bulk properties of a polymer

Multi-detector GPC is a development over and above single detector systems, which are often called “conventional GPC”. A single-detector system typically includes a refractive index (RI) detector and is used to make measurements of molecular weight by comparing a sample’s elution time against that of standards with known molecular weight. Single-detector conventional systems have been available since the development of this separation technique and are used throughout industry and academia. They are used for a wide range of applications, such as synthetic polymer development, manufacture and QC, polysaccharide preparation, grading, and blending. There are a number of reasons why they are so popular including, most importantly, their repeatability and reproducibility, their robustness, and their simplicity and accessibility. However, if the standards and samples are different molecules, the results can only ever be comparative. The technology has advanced, however, and with additional detectors comes a wealth of information. Light scattering detectors, whether SEC-MALS, RALS, or LALS (multi-angle, right-angle or low-angle light scattering), measure absolute molecular weight and molecular weight distribution with excellent accuracy. A viscometer allows measurement of molecular structure and branching, and multiple concentration detectors allow compositional analysis of copolymers. The combination of these detectors allows for complete characterization of polymers without the compromises of relative measurements or chromatography setup dependencies. Developing novel polymers and achieving their maximum potential can only be achieved when the polymer is fully characterized. With these benefits in mind, this white paper lists the top ten reasons you need an advanced multi-detector GPC system.

>> Download the full Application Note as PDF

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