CRYOGENICALLY COOLED SAMPLE HOLDER FOR POLYMER SAMPLE ANALYSIS BY RADIOFREQUENCY GLOW-DISCHARGE MASS-SPECTROMETRY

A cryogenically cooled sample holder has been constructed for use in t he analysis of polymeric materials by radio frequency glow discharge m ass spectrometry (rf-GDMS). Passage of liquid nitrogen through the bod y of a brass sample backing plate cools the sample down to temperature s of approximately -170 degrees C. The cryo-cooled sample holder is re adily adaptable to existing direct insertion probe assemblies commonly used in GDMS instrumentation. The benefits of low temperature cooling are illustrated in terms of the ability to analyze thermally sensitiv e polymers without evidence of degradation, greater temporal stability of the ion signal, and the reduction of proton transfer reactions to polymer fragment species (due to the presence of residual water vapor) . Implementation of the cryo-cooled sample holder opens up many possib ilities for the direct analysis of solid polymers by rf-GDMS. (C) 1997 American Society for Mass Spectrometry.