Detailed Analysis of an Unknown Polymer Using the Py-GC/MS System with Polymer Additives and F-Search Polymer Libraries

The analysis of additives contained in polymer materials is important for managing and improving the quality of these materials, and for complying with regulations on chemical substances. The Polymer Additives Library is a GC/MS mass spectra library containing information on a wide range of additives used in polymer materials. Along with mass spectra, the library contains information on retention indices, additive classification, and decomposition products that allow detailed analysis of additives.
This report describes analysis of an unknown polymer using three analysis modes on a Py-GC/MS system (evolved gas MS, pyrolysis GC/MS, and thermal extraction GC/MS), and estimation of the polymer base material and additives contained in the polymer using the Polymer Additives Library and Frontier Laboratories’ F-Search Polymer Library. The polymer base material was estimated to be Styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR), containing the antioxidant additive p-(p-Toluene sulfonylamido)diphenylamine (Nocrac TD).