Size exclusion chromatography equipment for polymer analysis

尺寸排除色谱(SEC)，也称为凝胶渗透色谱(GPC)，是一种标准的色谱分析技术，可提供有关聚合物样品中分子的大小和均匀程度的详细信息(例如，分子量分布、旋转半径、流体动力学半径和化学官能度)。聚合物的合成和化学修饰通常在共同申请者的实验室进行，都需要SEC分析进行监测，以确认反应成功和没有副(不想要的)反应。目前可用于这一目的的设备是已有20多年历史的全手动Waters系统，既没有温度控制能力，也没有自动样品注入能力，并使用简单的自制软件运行。为了保持在国际水平上的研究竞争力，必须用包括适当探测器的最先进的SEC系统取代现有设备。受益于所需设备的研究计划涉及(A)明确定义的支化(树枝)聚合物的合成和表征，以及(B)用荧光光谱学研究聚合物链动力学(流动性)。仪器选用的差示折射计、光散射、粘度计和紫外可见吸收检测器将提供两个实验室研究的支链和线形聚合物样品的补充信息。这些信息对于解释详细的物理特性数据至关重要，这些数据是为了将聚合物的结构和组成与观察到的性能相关联而产生的。所要求的SEC设备还将为本科生、研究生和博士后研究员提供现代聚合物分析技术方面的培训。

Size Exclusion Chromatography (SEC), also known as Gel Permeation Chromatography (GPC), is a standard chromatographic analysis technique providing detailed information on the size and uniformity of the molecules in a polymer sample (e.g. molecular weight distribution, radius of gyration, hydrodynamic radius, and chemical functionality). The synthesis and the chemical modification of polymers, carried out routinely in the co-applicants' laboratories, both require monitoring by SEC analysis to confirm the success of the reactions and the absence of side (unwanted) reactions. The equipment currently available for that purpose is a fully manual Waters system that is over 20 years old, has neither temperature control nor automated sample injection capabilities, and runs with rudimentary homemade software. In order to remain competitive in research at the international level, it is imperative that the existing equipment be replaced with a state of the art SEC system including suitable detectors. The research programs benefiting from the requested equipment are concerned with (a) the synthesis and the characterization of well-defined branched (dendritic) polymers and (b) the investigation of polymer chain dynamics (mobility) by fluorescence spectroscopy. The differential refractometer, light scattering, viscometer, and UV-visible absorbance detectors selected for the instrument will provide complementary information on branched and linear polymer samples investigated in both laboratories. This information is of fundamental importance in interpreting detailed physical characterization data generated to correlate the structure and composition of the polymers with the properties observed. The requested SEC equipment will also provide training in that modern polymer analysis technique for undergraduate students, graduate students, and post-doctoral fellows.