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Identification of antioxidants in plastics

25 Apr 2003 - Agilent Technologies Inc. has announced a method for rapid identification of antioxidant polymer additives in plastics. The method allows rapid evaluation of additives and additive degradation in formulations for better product performance. Plastic products, an essential and ubiquitous part of modern society, are the focus of continuing intense research into new blends and polymers. Of equal interest to researchers are polymer additives, which determine the material's color, density, opacity, stiffness, flexibility, flame retardance, and resistance to heat, light and air. Such additives also can improve the processing properties of plastics during pellet creation and fabrication of the final product. The method uses the Agilent 1100 Series liquid chromatograph (LC) with ultraviolet/visible (UV-Vis) spectroscopy and atmospheric pressure chemical ionization mass spectroscopy (APCI-MS) to assess the concentration and identity of antioxidant polymer additives -- as well as their degradation products -- within 15 minutes or less. LC systems, which can analyze materials with diverse molecular weights and solubility, are suited to the higher molecular weight and lower volatility of many antioxidants. Moreover, the system's MS data have the spectral resolution necessary to infer structural details, leading to accurate chemical identification.