Development of Multi-Functional Pyrolysis-GC/MS System for Characterization of Polymeric Materials

With the advancement of technology and industry, various functional polymer materials have been created. The characterization of polymer materials plays an important role in the development of such materials. Pyrolysis gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (Py-GC/ MS) is one of the most promising analytical methods for the qualification and quantification of polymer materials, as it requires only a trace amount of sample with minimal sample pretreatment. In addition, results provide unique information that is unobtainable by the other analytical techniques. The Py-GC/MS system, equipped with a micro furnace pyrolyzer, has been used in a variety of research fields. However, with the evolution of polymer materials, the complexity of analyses has increased beyond the capabilities of a conventional Py-GC/MS system. Consequently, numerous devices have been developed, expanding the application range of Py-GC/MS systems and further enhancing their utility in the characterization of polymer materials. This paper provides an overview of a multifunctional Py-GC/MS system developed to address these challenges.