Analysis of pressure sensitive adhesives by GC/MS and GC/AED with temperature programmable pyrolyzer

Gas chromatograph/mass spectrometer (GC/MS) and gas chromatograph/atomic em ission detector (GC/AED) with temperature programmable pyrolyzer were used for analysis of pressure sensitive adhesives in adhesive tapes. Evolved gas analysis (EGA) profile of the adhesives was obtained by this temperature-p rogrammed pyrolyzer directly coupled with MS via a deactivated metal capill ary tube. The EGA profile suggested the optimal thermal desorption conditio n for additives and the subsequent optimal pyrolysis temperature for the re maining polymeric material. Rubbers were identified from pyrograms with the assistance of st new polymer library. The additives were selectively detec ted by monitoring hetero elements and these screening results of GC/AED ena bled one to easily find additive peaks in complex chromatograms of GC/MS wi th interference of tackifier. The additives were able to be identified by t he corresponding GC/MS data. Furthermore, the EGA profile gave significant data for crosslinking agents by using specific ion monitoring.