Analysis of Resin Using the OPTIC-4 Multimode Inlet in Pyrolysis Mode

The OPTIC-4 can be used for pyrolysis analysis of polymers. With the pyrolysis method, a small amount of a resin (a few dozen μg or less) is heated rapidly in a helium gas environment. The pyrolysates are then analyzed using a GC/MS. The structure of the resin can in turn be analyzed from the pyrolysates. The OPTIC-4 is capable of rapid heating up to 600 °C at 60 °C/sec, so data equivalent to that from a dedicated pyrolysis system can be obtained. This article describes the analysis of a polycarbonate resin using the OPTIC-4 in pyrolysis mode.