Characterization of High-Performance Polymers Using Thermal Desorption/Pyrolysis and High-Resolution Mass Spectrometry 

High-performance plastics (polymers) are the backbone of modern aerospace, medical, analytical instrumentation, and energy technologies. Because they are designed to survive extreme heat and chemicals, they are notoriously difficult to break down and study. To build better materials and ensure they don’t fail, scientists need to understand their chemical composition including the additives and « building blocks » that give them their strength.

This webinar demonstrates two specialized sample delivery techniques to characterize these materials without the need for elaborate sample preparation strategies:

• Thermal Desorption: Controlled heating (up to 300 °C) of the plastic to release additives and potential contaminants.
• Pyrolysis: Using intense heat (greater than 600 °C) to break the plastic’s « backbone » into identifiable fragments.

Combining these techniques with high-resolution GC-TOFMS enables detection of the complex chemical fingerprints for high-performance plastics like polyether ether ketone (PEEK, used in medical implants) and polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE, commonly known as Teflon).

We will demonstrate a reliable method to analyze the chemistry of the world’s toughest plastics. This method will help manufacturers ensure their materials are pure, and ready for use in planes, electronics, and human bodies.