
Inverse Gas Chromatography
Surface Energy Analyzer (iGC-SEA)
The world’s first and most advanced purpose build iGC instrument
For over 15 years, Surface Measurement Systems have set the standard in iGC-based instrumentation. The iGC-SEA, a 2nd generation instrument, is the culmination of all our scientific expertise and engineering knowledge.
As the world’s first, most advanced, and only purpose-built commercial iGC instrument, the iGC-SEA is the first choice of laboratories across the world for determining surface energy properties. With the unique SMS injection scheme, the instrument provides a wide range of injection concentrations with unrivaled accuracy and reproducibility.


The iGC-SEA is based on Inverse Gas Chromatography (iGC) methodology, a gas phase technique for characterizing surface and bulk properties of solid materials. The principles of iGC are very simple, with a cylindrical column being uniformly packed with the solid material being analyzed. Pulses of contact concentration of gas is then injected down the column at a fixed carrier gas flow rate. The injected gas molecules passing over the material are adsorbed 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. With the VN indicating how strongly the probe gas interacts with the solid sample; a wide range of surface and bulk properties can be calculated.
World’s Most Advanced & Only Purpose-Built iGC Instrument
Discover what makes the iGC-SEA the world’s most advanced iGC instrument.


Bring the iGC-SEA to your laboratory
The iGC-SEA offers a range of unique materials characterization capabilities. To find out more about the iGC-SEA and its modular accessories, or to discuss a quote, please fill out the forms below.