Thermal Deterioration Analysis of Polymers using a Linear Benchtop MALDI-TOF MS

Introduction

In recent years, MALDI-TOF mass spectrometers are being utilized more and more for simple molecular weight measurement and profiling of synthesized products and high-molecular compounds. This is because instruments of this type have several advantageous features: singly-charged ions are generated so molecular weights can be recognized easily, the mass range is wide, and there are many solvent options because the sample is dried before measurement. On the other hand, due to changes in social conditions over the last several years, government offices, universities and private enterprises strongly request the reduction of costs for both the introduction and running of instruments used for such applications. The benchtop "MALDI-8020" MALDI-TOF mass spectrometer is a new instrument that can adequately meet these market needs. The noteworthy point about this instrument is that it has a shorter flight tube, which is the key feature of its small size, while retaining performance equal to or higher than that of a conventional model. In the process of the recent development and quality control of materials and chemical products, there is an increasing need to simply and quickly examine the degradation of synthesized polymer products based on chemical changes at a molecular level in association with durability tests. This article introduces an example of analyzing the thermal degradation of polymers using the MALDI-8020 mass spectrometer.

March 29, 2019 GMT