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Inverse Gas Chromatography: A Powerful Tool in Particle Characterization

Free-to-Attend | In-person

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Discover Advanced Techniques for In-depth Materials Characterization

Join Surface Measurement Systems for an in-person, expert-led workshop exploring how Inverse Gas Chromatography at Surface Energy Analysis (IGC-SEA) reveals the surface and interfacial properties that truly govern powder and particulate performance.


Through clear fundamentals and practical case studies, this workshop will show how IGC-SEA quantifies surface energy, heterogeneity, cohesion, and particle–binder interactions, and how these parameters link directly to flowability, agglomeration, wettability, adhesion, and process robustness. You’ll also see how surface treatments, temperature, and humidity alter material behaviour, and how IGC can act as a sensitive fingerprint for process and quality control.


With real examples from powder technology, catalysts, and functional fillers, plus interactive discussion and optional data demonstrations, this session is ideal for scientists and engineers working in materials development, formulation, processing, and QC who want actionable insight—not just theory.

1. Fundamentals of IGC-SEA:

  • Principle of inverse gas chromatography in the infinite-dilution and finite-concentration regimes
  • Differences compared to classical methods (BET, contact angle, DSC)
  • Which material-relevant parameters are directly accessible with IGC?

2. Surface Energy & Particle Heterogeneity

  • Dispersive and specific surface energy
  • Acid/base character (Lewis acid/base)
  • Surface heterogeneity and energetic distributions
  • Influence of particle size, morphology, and roughness
  • Agglomeration, Wettability, Adhesion between particles and matrix

3. Particle–Particle and Particle–Binder Interactions

  • Determination of cohesive energy
  • Prediction of Flow behavior, Segregation, Adhesion to walls or tooling

4. Impact of Surface Modifications & Treatments

  • Plasma, chemical, or thermal surface treatments
  • Functionalization of fillers
  • Comparison before/after treatment
  • Quantitative assessment of treatment efficiency

5. Temperature and Humidity Dependence

  • Measurements up to high temperatures (relevant to process conditions)
  • Influence of humidity on surface properties
  • Coupling IGC data with sorption or process data

6. Process and Quality Control

  • Batch-to-batch comparisons
  • Influence of milling, drying, or granulation processes

7. Practical Session / Case Studies

  • Powder technology
  • Catalysts
  • Fillers (silica, oxides, polymers)

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Audience Q&A

University of Erlangen (FAU)

Cauerstr. 4

91058 Erlangen


IPT seminar room no. 0.332

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