揭开聚合物分析的可持续发展之谜

2023年4月27日

阅读时间：5分钟

Polymer analysis is the study of the chemical and physical properties of polymers, large molecules made up of repeating units called monomers. This can include techniques such as molecular weight determination, chemical structure and impurities testing, and thermal analysis. Emerging analytical technologies can also be used for direct analysis of polymer constituents of volatile or non-volatile nature. This field of research is critical in understanding and improving the properties of these materials, which have a wide range of applications in industries such as packaging, textiles, construction, and transportation.

Waters is helping plastics manufacturers with the insights they need to design higher-performing biomaterials. The polymer industry increasingly recognizes the importance of sustainability, and polymer analysis is essential in developing sustainable solutions. Waters offers several techniques to promote sustainable polymer analysis ranging from thermal analyzers (TA) to gel permeation chromatography (GPC) and mass spectrometry (MS). Comprehensive analytical testing solutions for polymeric materials from Waters play a vital role in ensuring the safety and quality of the products that billions of people rely on every day, including food, water, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and materials.

分析化学促进更安全的环境

We are also helping scientists develop materials that can save energy. Waters advanced polymer chromatography (ACQUITY Advanced Polymer Chromatography (APC) System paired with ACQUITY APC Columns™) offers several distinct advantages for lab scientists. The pairing will:

与传统的SEC/GPC相比，分析速度最多可以提高20倍
分析时使用的溶剂明显减少
减少操作的复杂性和设备占地面积的担忧
最终将降低每个样品的分析成本

Waters ACQUITY聚合物色谱系统 — ACQUITY™ Advanced Polymer Chromatography™ (APC™)系统可为色谱聚合物和低聚物表征提供最高分辨率的基于尺寸的分离，所有这些都比以往更快，因此您可以在改善实验室运作的同时更快地进行创新。

简化聚合物的表征

在可持续聚合物分析中越来越多地使用两种技术：GPC和MS。

GPC，也被称为尺寸排除色谱法（SEC），是一种根据聚合物分子的尺寸进行分离的技术，用于确定分子量（MW）分布。有了这些信息，实验室可以了解聚合物的特性，并开发新的、可持续的解决方案，如减少生产中的资源浪费，最大限度地利用回收的聚合物材料。

With MS, it is possible to characterize the composition and structure of polymer molecules and combine this technique with GPC/SEC for more comprehensive analysis, like identifying and quantifying the presence of impurities, additives, and low MW species in a polymer sample – all of which are critical for polymer sustainability. MS can also be used to analyze the breakdown products of polymers during recycling and biodegradation, which can provide insight into the sustainability of these processes.

While advanced MS instruments are critical for the research and development stages, for routine analytical testing, small footprint quadrupole mass spectrometers such as the Waters ACQUITY QDa Detector™ are best suited to address the cost, complexity of operation and size concerns while meeting polymer analysis requirements. The significantly smaller footprint of the ACQUITY QDa Detector is ideal, making MS more accessible and easier to use than ever.

沃特世公司的默契QDA检测器 — ACQUITY™ QDa™检测器与色谱法协调工作，使分析科学家能够定期生成最高质量的质谱数据，而不需要任何特殊培训或专业知识。

单一系统分析的优势

GPC and MS are extremely valuable in polymer analysis, but they’ve traditionally been performed as separate steps on distinct analytical instruments, adding significant cost and complexity. By combining GPC and MS into a single system, polymer analysis can be more efficient and cost-effective. Waters scientists tested a single system approach, demonstrating how an ACQUITY APC System, combined with the Waters ACQUITY UPLC Refractive Index (RI) Detector™ and the Waters ACQUITY QDa Detector, can accelerate polymer analysis by accurately measuring polymer MW distribution and detecting polymer additives simultaneously.

这种方法是非常有益的，因为它：

消除了对多种仪器的需求
减少了样品制备步骤
提高了分析的准确性和精确性

此外，通过使用单一系统进行GPC和MS分析，实验室可以：

在一次运行中同时获得聚合物的分子量和化学信息，以便更全面地了解聚合物的特性。这对于识别和量化聚合物样品中存在的杂质、添加剂和低分子量物种特别有用。
管理和提供MW与化学结构的相关性，为聚合物特性和可持续性之间的关系提供有价值的洞察力。

帮助我们的客户解决最棘手的问题，减少对环境的影响

Overall, polymer analysis is a complex and multifaceted application that plays a vital role in advancing the properties and sustainability of these materials. Waters analytical solution for routine polymer analysis combines the benefits of the ACQUITY APC system with the ACQUITY UPLC Refractive Index (RI) Detector and ACQUITY QDa Detector in a single system, and enables accelerated qualitative and quantitative analyses of both MW and additive concentrations in minutes per sample. This efficient and cost-effective analytical configuration allows for fast, invaluable information useful for the development of more environmentally sound and sustainable solutions in the polymer industry. These are ways in which Waters continues to meet the challenges of the future.

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