SMS - Model iGC-SEA -Inverse Gas Chromatography-Surface Energy Analzyer

The iGC-SEA is based on Inverse Gas Chromatography (iGC) methodology and is a gas phase technique for characterising surface and bulk properties of solid materials. The principles of IGC are very simple, being the reverse of a conventional gas chromatographic (GC) experiment.A cylindrical column is uniformly packed with the solid material of interest, typically a powder, fibre or film. A pulse of constant concentration of gas is then injected down the column at a fixed carrier gas flow rate, and the time taken for the pulse or concentration front to elute down the column is measured by a detector. A series of iGC measurements with different gas phase probe molecules then allows access to a wide range of phyisco-chemical properties of the solid sample.

The injected gas molecules passing over the material adsorb on the surface with a partition coefficient KS:

Ks = Vn / Ws

Where VN is the net retention volume – the volume of carrier gas required to elute the injection through the column, and WS is the mass of the sample. VN is a measure of how strongly the probe gas interacts with the solid sample and is the fundamental data obtained from an IGC experiment; from it a wide range of surface and bulk properties can be calculated.

Instrument features include:

• Unrivalled accuracy and repeatability
• Fully automated operation
• Comprehensive data analysis software
• Up to 12 different probe gas molecules
• User friendly wizard based software
• Optional humidity control
• In-Situ sample pre-conditioning
• Wide temperature range
• Column packing accessory
• Supports 21CFR Part 11

The iGC-SEA provides unique access to the following physico-chemical properties of a wide range of solid materials in a controlled humidity environment:

• Dispersive and polar surface energies
• Heats and entropies of adsorption
• Acid/base interactions
• Phase transitions
• Sorption isotherms
• Permeability, solubility and diffusion
• Micropore and mesopore distributions
• Competitive (Multicomponent) adsorption
• Surface energy heterogeneity mapping 

Typical iGC-SEA Applications – iGC-SEA provides access to unique physicochemical information for:

• Pharmaceuticals
• Cosmetics and Personal Care Products
• Food Products and Ingredients
• Minerals and Coals
• Building Materials
• Flavourings and Perfumes
• Natural and Artificial Fibres
• Biopolymers
• Coatings and Thin Films
• Supported Catalysts
• Polymers, Fillers and Composites
• Microporous Materials