Direct Mass Spectrometry of Polymers

The analysis of polymers by direct mass spectrometry is reviewed, and the principles of the method and some experimental aspects are discussed. Both pyrolysis and desorption methods are described. The mass spectrometric method provides the characterisation of intractable materials and their detection at the submicrogram level; the simultaneous identification and detection of additives or oligomers contained in polymer samples; the identification of components of polymer mixtures, the sequential analysis of copolymers; the identification of the primary thermal fragmentation products of polymers. Direct mass spectrometry has been widely applied to the structural analysis of synthetic and natural polymers. Published work covers nearly all classes of polymers.