Gel permeation chromatography unit from Malvern
The installation of a multi-detection Viscotek TDAmax gel permeation chromatography (GPC) system from Malvern Instruments is enabling Dow Corning Europe SA in Belgium to meet customer demand for increasingly comprehensive polymer structure data.
Dow Corning is also saving resources by applying rapid, cost-effective GPC methods to pre-select the most promising new polymer candidates.
This can significantly reduce the number of nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) investigations required.
"We're seeing increased demand from our customers for structural data and for more in-depth characterisation of polymer and co-polymer samples," said Stephane Cornelis, global business service - analytical sciences, Dow Corning Europe SA.
"Structural information is beneficial because we can quickly compare samples and characterise any changes in behaviour following polymer grafting, for example.
The Viscotek GPC with triple detection uses an easy-to-read Mark-Houwink-Sakurada plot to visualise changes in molecular weight and intrinsic viscosity against a reference sample.
"This is a real time saver!" explained Cornelis.
"Additionally, by using multiple-detection GPC to characterise new polymer candidates, we have been able to pre-select only the most interesting for further study.
"This has allowed us to reduce the number of more expensive and time consuming NMR investigations." Dow Corning is a global leader in silicones and silicon-based technology and innovation, offering more than 7,000 products and services.
Viscotek instruments apply a combination of refractive index (RI), viscosity, light scattering and ultra-violet (UV) detection following GPC sample separation.
With the detectors connected in series, the entire measurement sequence uses a single, un-split volume of sample to deliver high accuracy results.
For further information about multi-detection GPC visit: www.malvern.com/viscotek
