Home » Products » Quality Control Instruments » GPC-QC GPC-QC Simplified and fully automated GPC/SEC instrument aimed at quality control laboratories in polyolefin production plants Request a Quotation GPC-QC Overview GPC-QC is a compact, high-temperature Gel Permeation Chromatography (GPC) instrument for quality control in polyolefin production plants. GPC-QC has a simple and reliable approach based on Polymer Char’s Quality Control platform. It provides a robust and precise microstructural characterization to fulfill the industry’s requirements towards a more uniform production and tighter specification ranges. For quality control purposes, the industry has traditionally relied on bulk parameters such as Melt Flow Index and Density, which represent average molecular weight and average chemical composition, respectively. With the development of more complex polyolefins, Melt Flow Index and Density start to show their limitations, as these physical parameters alone may not explain the resin’s performance. GPC-QC can provide significant value to the production control lab by measuring the whole Molecular Weight Distribution (MWD) of the sample. AUTOMATION: GPC-QC delivers the complete MWD for one sample through a simplified workflow, while keeping a fully automated sample preparation and an analysis free of manual solvent handling throughout the entire process. Depending on the sample and analytical conditions, the complete analysis can take as little as 30-40 minutes including dissolution. GPC-QC design principles and operation DETECTION: The Infrared (IR) detection, implemented in the instrument through Polymer Char’s integrated IR4 or IR5 detectors, is highly stable, contributing to the overall reliability of the instrument. The IR detector also provides simultaneous chemical composition information, which is key for controlling the production of heterogeneous resins. For a truly complete analysis, the instrument can also measure the sample’s Intrinsic Viscosity (IV) by means of a built-in dual-capillary viscometer. APPLICATIONS: Important applications for GPC-QC are: Pilot plants. Plant start-ups. Monitoring grade changes in multi-reactor processes. Monitoring the microstructure of pipe resins. Processors’ laboratories. GPC/SEC METHOD: The GPC-QC complies with the ISO 16014-4 and ASTM D6474 methods for High-Temperature GPC measurement. GPC-QC Features · Simple and reliable design for Quality Control environments. · Full automation of the entire analytical process. · One sample analyzed in 30 minutes including dissolution. · 100 mL vials to ensure good sample representativity. · IR4 or IR5 MCT detectors for Concentration and Short Chain Branching (SCB) information (IR detectors comparison) · Optional incorporation of a dual-capillary viscometer. · Comprehensive results (MWD, SCB, IV). · Outstanding precision thanks to the instrument's full automation and the detectors’ robustness. GPC-QC Detectors The following are the detectors available for GPC-QC: Infrared Detector IR4 IR4 is the standard detector integrated by default in all the Polymer Char analytical instruments. IR4 is a dual-wavelength infrared detector, which uses the principle of infrared absorption spectroscopy to measure the concentration and composition in polyolefins. Infrared Detector IR5 IR5 is a high-sensitivity infrared detector designed for measuring concentration and short-chain branching with superb stability. It incorporates interference filters at five different wavelengths and a thermoelectrically cooled MCT detector with high sensitivity (no liquid Nitrogen required). Viscometer A two-capillary serial Viscometer can be included in the GPC-QC configuration to provide Intrinsic Viscosity and Long-chain Branching data. Intrinsic viscosity is directly related to the processing behavior and properties of the polymer. The viscometer design is robust and well suited for the quality control environment. GPC-QC Analysis Results Click here to view some GPC analysis results obtained with GPC-QC. GPC-QC Software The GPC-QC software controls the whole process, from filling the vials with solvent, to dissolving and injecting the sample. Therefore, the end-user tasks only consist of weighing the sample in the vial and placing it in the instrument. From that point on, all the needed steps are performed by the instrument with no manual intervention. The GPC-QC Software has been built as a Virtual Instrument, with the possibility of operating all the instrument hardware parts from the computer, and receiving feedback from all the actions and detectors signals. For data processing, the GPC One Software packages, developed in collaboration with the industry leaders, provide the most powerful data processing platform available in the market. To request a demo, please contact us Read more about One Software GPC-QC FAQs What is the purpose of GPC-QC? How many samples can be run at a time and how long will it take? How many grams of sample do I need for a GPC-QC analysis? Which solvents can be used? What kind of sample preparation is required by the user? Will I need to handle solvents? Which kind of samples can be analyzed? Which detector is used for the concentration measurement? Can I couple additional detectors to GPC-QC? Where are the columns located? How can I access and review my results? What is the volume of the vials to be used? How often does the instrument require preventive maintenance? What is the price of a GPC-QC system? Request More Information about GPC-QC Thank you for your interest. If you would like to receive more information or want to request a quotation please complete this form. * Required fields I have read and accept the terms and conditions and privacy policy Related Literature & Documents Instruments & Analytical Services Brochure File size: 4MB Download PDF GPC-QC Datasheet File size: 314 KB Download PDF Quality Control Instruments Catalog File size: 5MB Download PDF Article: Newly Developed Polymer Resins are More Challenging to Control in Production Plants Published in Plastics Engineering (SPE) May 2018 Pages 48-51 B. Monrabal, A. Ortín, P. del Hierro Read more Related Instruments Intrinsic Viscosity Analyzer (IVA) A reliable and automated instrument to measure the intrinsic viscosity of polymers CRYSTEX® QC A reliable and automated instrument for the Amorphous Fraction determination in Quality Control laboratories of Polypropylene plants GPC-IR® High-Temperature multi-detector GPC/SEC system. Automated, Reliable and Polyolefin-dedicated Not ready to purchase an instrument yet? Try our Analytical Services. Click here for more information. Overview Features Detectors Sample Results Software FAQs Contact Related Literature Related Instruments Analytical Services Polymer Characterization, S.A. Valencia Technology Park Gustave Eiffel 8, Paterna E-46980 Valencia, Spain Tel.: +34 96 131 81 20 info@polymerchar.com Follow us on LinkedIn Sign up for our newsletter Go! Terms & Conditions Privacy Policy Cookies Policy Cookies configuration This site uses cookies to give you a better browsing experience. 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