Pyrolysis mass spectrometry of acrylic acid polymers

摘要

Pyrolysis mass spectrometry (Py-MS) has been used in our laboratory for analytical characterization of acrylic acid polymers for a number of years. We have found that direct probe pyrolysis using chemical ionization mass spectrometry (CI-MS, isobutane reagent gas) may be used to determine the presence of acrylic acid and alkyl acrylate comonomers. Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS) may be used to directly characterize lower molecular weight acrylic acid-containing polymers, by using sinapinic acid matrix in the negative ion mode. Off-line low-temperature pyrolyses of poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) have been carried out using techniques previously developed in our laboratory. MALDI analyses of these PAA pyrolyzates provide direct evidence for dehydration and decarboxylation processes.