Samples should be dissolved in the appropriate solvent and filtered (0.45 micron) prior to analysis. Sample concentration should be approximately 1 – 5 mg/mL for polymers <100 kDa, 0.7 – 1.5 mg/mL for 100 – 500 kDa, and <0.7 mg/mL for >500 kDa.

Gel permeation chromatography utilizes the stationary phase pore volume to separate molecules of differing molecular weights. A larger molecule that’s unable to reside in the pore will spend more time in the mobile phase while the smaller molecules reside more in the stationary phase. Elution volumes are calibrated against molecular weight standards, polystyrene or poly(methylmethacrylate).

Provides information on molecular weight distributions of polymers. Detection limit depends on the detector used.