MATRIX-ASSISTED LASER DESORPTION IONIZATION MASS-SPECTROMETRY OF C-36-ALKANE FOLLOWING DEGRADATION BY VACUUM-ULTRAVIOLET RADIATION/

Linear C-36-alkane, as a model compound for polyolefins, was exposed t o vacuum-ultraviolet radiation for different periods of time, The form ation of degradation products with varying molecular weights and with double bonds was studied by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionizatio n time-of-flight mass spectrometry. For a better quantification of the results, the ionization probabilities of a compound containing six do uble bonds (squalene) was compared,vith the saturated homologous (squa lane). (C) 1997 by John Whey & Sons, Ltd.