The New Generation in High Temperature GPC

Polymer Char has launched its new High Temperature GPC instrument. The GPC-IR is specially designed to polyolefin analysis and provides its users with an advanced modular design, an improved detection
stability and full automation of the analytical process.

The GPC-IR fully automated operation process eliminates the need of solvent handling. The instrument takes care of the filling of the vials, sample dissolution, in-line filtering and injection process. There is no need at all of vials transfer at high temperature.

The instrument incorporates three modules: the autosampler, the main GPC oven and detector body, and the pump-degasser system. The autosampler’s capability is 70 samples, with a heated zone for sample dissolution. Each sample vial stays at the heated compartment (up to 250ºC) only for its selected dissolution time.

The GPC-IR main body consists of a Columns Oven compartment, with a 0.01ºC control up to 220ºC, where the GPC columns are placed and isolated from the rest of the hardware; and on top of it, the Injector-Detectors Oven compartment, where Injection and Filtration Valves and detectors are installed.

In the Injector-Detectors Oven, a specially designed in-line filter has been installed, so every sample is pre-filtered when filling the loop before injection. The filter is backflushed to the waste bottle after every injection, overcoming the most difficult and tedious operation in High Temperature GPC.

The instrument can be configured as a quadruple detector system with: Viscometer, Light Scattering (Wyatt Heleos) and Infrared detector IR4 (with concentration and composition sensors); optionally a very sensitive IR5 with a Mercury Cadmium Telluride detector can be added for the analysis of very low levels of branching (f.i. analysis of HDPE Pipe resins).