New Rxi™ Fused Silica Columns: Revolutionary Thinking

Ultimate High-Performance Fused Silica Capillary Columns

Rxi™ columns were created at Restek's cutting-edge research facility, Restek West, in California. Our senior polymer chemists developed new column technology, based on our Crossbond® chemistry, to create this new column line. The columns we produce as a result of their work exhibit exceptional inertness and unsurpassed reproducibility, from column to column and lot to lot. Acidic or basic compounds chromatograph beautifully, at sub-nanogram on-column levels, with no peak tailing. Ultra-low bleed assures compatibility with sensitive detectors or in trace-level GC/MS analysis. We tuned this unique chemistry until polymer selectivity was locked in, to allow install-and-run use of Rxi™ columns with retention time-locking software.

What makes Rxi™ columns different from other columns?

First, and foremost, unique deactivation and our modified Crossbond® chemistry create columns with superior performance. The raw materials we use in the manufacturing process - both tubing and chemicals - are strictly controlled. Cleanliness and precision are critical to every step in the process. In addition, we looked in-depth at all other aspects of the column manufacturing process, to establish a highly reproducible process. In both performance and column-to-column consistency, Rxi™ columns are surpassed by no other columns.

In developing Rxi™ columns, our first step was to work with our fused silica tubing supplier to establish rigorous controls on internal diameter, outer diameter, ovality, and surface activity. These controls guarantee our tubing is a known starting point. Then, we treat this highly uniform tubing with our unique deactivation chemistry, producing a consistent, inert surface on which to apply the polymer.

Next, we reformulated our polymers, taking steps to ensure neutrality and to fine tune selectivity for retention time locking. A neutral polymer and a neutral tubing surface are important contributors toward excellent peak shape for both acidic and basic compounds.

To complement these efforts, we developed a new column manufacturing process that creates a very reproducible product. This is critical, because our customers' workdays are simplified when every new column they purchase performs exactly as its predecessor.

Overall, the results of these efforts are columns that define unsurpassed inertness, ultra-low bleed, and totally reliable column-to-column performance.

Guaranteed Quality and Reliability

Restek is committed to supplying the most reliable GC columns in the industry. Every Rxi™ column is individually challenged to pass our stringent requirements for film thickness, coating efficiency, selectivity, inertness, and bleed. We believe Rxi™ column technology produces the most reliable columns available, anywhere, and we promise that every Rxi™ column you receive will be exactly as good as the one it replaces.

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	Introducing... Restek's exceptionally inert (Rxi) fused silica capillary columns: In addition to control of inertness and bleed, column-to-column uniformity has been elusive - see editorial The "Replacement" Column A Recurring Problem in Gas Chromatography, by guest editor Professor Walter Jennings. The processes we use to make new Rxi™ columns enable us to guarantee highly uniform performance, column to column and lot to lot, including perfect match-up with retention time-locking software. It is our promise and commitment to you that every Rxi™ column you receive will be exactly as good as the one it replaces.