SLIDING SPARK SPECTROSCOPY - RAPID SURVEY ANALYSIS OF FLAME RETARDANTS AND OTHER ADDITIVES IN POLYMERS

A sliding spark spectrometer with a new powerful excitation source was used to detect halogens, flame retardants and metals in non-chlorine containing polymers. The sliding spark source generated discharges usi ng up to 2 kJ of stored energy. The new generator results in improved signal-to-background. ratios (SBR) by the factor of three. With this s ource and a newly developed tow cost charge-coupled device spectromete r it was possible to detect Elements simultaneously in polymer materia ls within 5 s. Fillers and white pigments containing Pb, Ti, Zn, Si, M g, Ca and Ba were qualitatively detected in polyethylene and polypropy lene. Acrylnitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer samples containing diff erent types of flame retardants were analysed and Cl, Br, P, Sb, Al, M g and Zn were detected, Limits or detection of about 0.1% w/w for elem ents in chlorine-free polymers were obtained. The use of multiple line ar regression give better results than the use of one individual spect ral line.