Gel permeation chromatography unit for comprehensive polymer analysis

尺寸排阻色谱法（SEC），或者称为凝胶渗透色谱法（GPC），普遍用于测定聚合物材料的分子量分布。分子量分布的知识对于将其与关键性能相关联至关重要，如粘度（进而加工条件）以及拉伸和冲击强度，这些性能决定了最终使用性能。GPC也是一种用于阐明聚合机理的强大技术，并且具有适当的检测单元，可以提供基本的结构信息，例如溶液中的螺旋构象、支化度和官能团的标记。所有这些特性对于设计用于新型生物输送系统的聚合物、下一代密封剂和涂层以及复合材料和微电子材料至关重要。例如，我单独或与我的共同申请人合作进行的所有项目都需要GPC单位提供的全套检测能力。这些范围包括无毒性原料的非异氰酸酯聚（酯）、自修复、低粘度和低挥发性航空航天涂料;在密封膜中具有改进的缺陷去除特征的绿色增塑剂、生物基复合材料和新型可生物降解的聚合物气体水合物抑制剂/促进剂。因此，GPC单元必须具有多个检测器，例如折射率（以测量浓度并得出相对于聚合物标准的分子量分布）和特性粘度，以揭示聚合物的支化和溶液性质。此外，所需装置的独特设置允许在几分钟内快速洗脱，而我们现有的GPC需要近一个小时，允许对正在研究的聚合反应进行近乎实时的反馈。 多溶剂切换功能还允许梯度色谱和快速切换不同样品的不同溶解度，而无需更换色谱柱。 本提案中要求的配置满足了当前的分析需求，但更重要的是，允许我的学生和合作者设想GPC未来的新功能，以分析我们正在构建到材料中的独特聚合物和特性。

Size exclusion chromatography (SEC), alternatively known as gel permeation chromatography (GPC), is universally used to determine the molecular weight distribution of polymeric materials. Knowledge of the molecular weight distribution is essential for relating it to key properties such as viscosity (and in turn processing conditions) and tensile and impact strength, which dictate final use performance. GPC is also a powerful technique for elucidating polymerization mechanisms and with the appropriate detection unit, can supply essential structural information such as coil conformation in solution, degree of branching and tagging of functional groups. All of these features are vital for designing polymers for novel biological delivery systems, next-generation sealants and coatings and materials for composites and microelectronics. For example, all of the projects I am pursuing solely or in collaboration with my co-applicants requires the complete suite of detection capability offered by the GPC unit. These range from non-isocyanate poly(urethanes) without toxic feedstock, self-healing, low viscosity and low volatility aerospace coatings; green plasticizers with improved defect removing features in calendared films, bio-based composites and novel biodegradable polymeric gas hydrate inhibitors/promoters. Consequently, the GPC units must have multiple detectors such as refractive index (to measure concentration and derive the molecular weight distribution relative to polymeric standards) and intrinsic viscosity to reveal branching and solution properties of the polymer. Further, the unique set up of the unit requested allows rapid elution on the order of a few minutes, compared to the nearly one hour of our existing GPC, allowing nearly real-time feedback on the polymerization being studied.  The multiple solvent switching enabled also permits gradient chromatography and rapid changeover for different samples with differing solubilities, without having to change columns.  The configurations requested in this proposal meets the current analytical needs but more importantly, allow my students and collaborators to envision novel future capabilities of GPC to analyze the unique polymers and properties we are building into our materials.