Mass Spectrometry

Pyrolysis-Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry provides complementary polymer identification by thermally decomposing samples and analyzing their characteristic breakdown products. This technique excels at identifying complex polymer mixtures, copolymers, and additives that spectroscopic methods alone cannot resolve.

• Analysis: Thermal decomposition products identified via mass spectra
• Strength: Polymer mixtures, copolymers, and additives
• Complement to spectroscopy: Combined approach for comprehensive characterization
• Status: Under development — spectral library and matching pipeline in progress

Thermal Desorption-Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry offers a streamlined alternative to Py-GC/MS by directly desorbing volatile and semi-volatile compounds from a sample without requiring pyrolysis. This technique is particularly effective for analyzing additives, contaminants, and low-molecular-weight polymer fractions.

• Analysis: Thermal desorption products identified via mass spectra
• Strength: Additives, contaminants, volatile/semi-volatile compounds
• Advantage: No pyrolysis step — gentler thermal extraction preserves labile compounds
• Status: Planned — method development and library construction forthcoming