Short answer: No. Cogent TYPE‑C™ silica columns are not hybrid‑particle columns. They are built on high‑purity, base‑deactivated type‑B silica that has been surface‑modified to create a stable, unique chemistry—notably one that does not retain water the way conventional silica does.

This surface enables multiple chromatographic mechanisms on a single platform: Reversed Phase (RP), Normal Phase (NP), and Aqueous Normal Phase (ANP). The modification process was invented by Professor Joseph Pesek et al. and is supplied exclusively through MICROSOLV. 

What “Hybrid Particles” Usually Means (and Why TYPE‑C Isn’t That)

In HPLC parlance, “hybrid” particles typically refers to silica co‑condensed or composited with another matrix (e.g., organosiloxane/organic components) to improve mechanical or pH stability. TYPE‑C takes a different route: it starts with type‑B silica and applies a proprietary surface modification that fundamentally changes the surface energetics and hydration behavior without becoming a bulk “hybrid” material. This is why TYPE‑C is described as modified silica, not a hybrid particle. 

Why the TYPE‑C Surface Matters in Practice

• Reduced water retention at the surface → helps enable ANP methods where increasing water can decrease retention for certain analytes, a hallmark behavior of the TYPE‑C family. 
• Mode flexibility (RP, NP, ANP) → you can explore different selectivity regimes without changing the underlying column family, simplifying method scouting and transfer.
• Unique selectivity → the modified surface can yield distinct interaction profiles versus fully hydroxylated silica, aiding tough separations that resist conventional approaches. 

Typical Use Cases You’ll Recognize

• RP methods where you want conventional hydrophobic interactions but benefit from TYPE‑C’s surface characteristics.
• ​ANP methods for polar/ionizable analytes where water content can inversely affect retention, offering a powerful complement to RP. (See related CRC entries describing ANP behavior on TYPE‑C columns.)

Bottom Line: Cogent TYPE‑C™ columns are not hybrid particles. They’re modified type‑B silica with a distinct, water‑nonretaining surface that supports RP, NP, and ANP mechanisms—technology originated by Prof. Joseph Pesek et al. and manufactured by MICROSOLV