Leading Academics Select GPC Systems for Polymer Reaction Engineering Research

A team of researchers led by Professor Timothy McKenna, Canada Research Chair in polymer reaction engineering at Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario, is using the Viscotek TDAmax gel permeation chromatography (GPC) system from Malvern Instruments to optimise polymerisation conditions for the production of specifically tailored materials, including those with applications in the paints and adhesives industries.

The Viscotek TDAmax GPC system delivers absolute molecular weight and molecular weight distributions, both of which are crucial polymeric parameters that dictate performance. One of the team’s primary goals is to control free radical polymerisation reactions to achieve the desired characteristics in acrylate, methacrylate and styrenic-based polymers.

“For us GPC is an essential tool,” said Professor McKenna. “The Viscotek range provides a reliable solution and Malvern offers excellent and local customer support. In previous research, I routinely used a Malvern Zetasizer to study particle size and zeta potential. The instrument worked extremely well and any questions requiring Malvern’s help were always dealt with swiftly and efficiently.”

The Viscotek range of GPC systems are one of the most recent additions to the Malvern portfolio of analytical tools for polymer characterisation. Complementing Malvern’s renowned Zetasizer series, which uses light scattering techniques to measure zeta potential and particle size, and the company’s capillary and rotational rheometers for melt characterisation, the TDAmax is a fully integrated triple detector GPC

system. It incorporates refractive index and light scattering detectors and a viscometer, and provides direct absolute molecular weight measurement and precise intrinsic viscosity data, enabling comprehensive investigation of polymer properties, including structure.