Issue 16, 2023

Thermal desorption gas chromatography-mass spectrometry for investigating the thermal degradation of polyurethanes

Abstract

Thermal Desorption Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (TD-GC-MS) was used to investigate the thermal degradation of two different polyurethanes (PUs). PU samples were heated at different heating rates and the desorbed products were collected in a cold injection system and thereafter submitted to GC-MS. The prospects and limitations of the detection and quantification of semi-volatile degradation products were investigated. Temperature dependent PU depolymerization was observed at temperatures above 200 °C, proved by an increased release of 1,4-butanediol and methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (MDI) representing the main building blocks of both polymers. Their release was monitored quantitatively based on external calibration with authentic compounds. Size Exclusion Chromatography (SEC) of the residues obtained after thermal desorption confirmed the initial competitive degradation mechanism indicating an equilibrium of crosslinking and depolymerization as previously suggested. Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization (MALDI) mass spectrometry of SEC fractions of thermally degraded PUs provided additional hints on the degradation mechanism.

Graphical abstract: Thermal desorption gas chromatography-mass spectrometry for investigating the thermal degradation of polyurethanes

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
02 feb 2023
Accepted
03 apr 2023
First published
03 apr 2023
This article is Open Access
Creative Commons BY license

Anal. Methods, 2023,15, 1979-1984

Thermal desorption gas chromatography-mass spectrometry for investigating the thermal degradation of polyurethanes

R. Becker, P. Scholz, C. Jung and S. Weidner, Anal. Methods, 2023, 15, 1979 DOI: 10.1039/D3AY00173C

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