Quantitative analysis of an oligomeric hindered amine light stabilizer in polypropylene by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry using a solid sampling technique.

A small amount of an oligomeric hindered amine light stabilizer (HALS) (Adekastab LA-68LD) in polypropylene (PP) materials was directly determined by solid sampling matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS) using an internal standard method. First the matrix reagent (dithranol), 20 mg, and the empirically selected internal standard, angiotensin I (MW = 1296.5), 5 microg, were premixed in the solid state. The matrix mixture was then co-ground with the PP sample containing the HALS in liquid nitrogen using a freezer mill. The powdered sample mixture was spotted on the sample plate, suspended in ion-exchanged water, dried to adhere on the plate, and subjected to MALDI-MS. Three series of the HALS components accompanied by the oxidized species were clearly observed as their molecular ions (M*+)) along with that of the internal standard in the mass spectra. A fairly good linear relationship (R2 = 0.9991) with a relative standard deviation of ca. 11% was observed between the relative peak intensities of the HALS components and the HALS contents ranging from 0.1-2.5 wt%, which could be used as the calibration line to determine the HALS content in PP composites directly by MALDI-MS. The UV-exposed PP composite samples were evaluated by this method to interpret the photostabilizing action of HALS in the PP materials based on the observed change in the relative abundances of the original and oxidized HALS components as a function of UV-exposure time.

Determination of a polymeric hindered amine light stabilizer in polypropylene formulated with magnesium hydroxide flame retardant by reactive thermal desorption-gas chromatography.

A polymeric hindered amine light stabilizer (HALS), Tinuvin 622 (MW [symbol: see text] 4000), in PP materials formulated with a magnesium hydroxide flame retardant was determined by reactive thermal desorption (RTD) gas chromatography (GC). Two kinds of the HALS components that were formed through the RTD in the presence of tetramethylammonium hydroxide [(CH3)4NOH, TMAH] were clearly observed in the chromatograms of the PP samples, with negligible interference from the other additives and the PP substrate. Here, the coexisting flame retardant was proved to affect significantly the RTD process of the occluded HALS. As a result, the recovery of the HALS components in the RTD-GC chromatograms of the PP samples increased with increase in the content of the flame retardant. This enhancement of the HALS recovery is attributed mainly to the preferential exposure of the HALS on the surface of the ground PP sample through the interaction between the polymeric HALS and the flame retardant in the molten PP during kneading. In spite of such a considerable action of the flame retardant, the observed intensities of the characteristic peaks of HALS by RTD-GC showed a good linear relationship with the HALS content in the PP samples with constant content of the flame retardant (50 phr); this relationship could be used as the calibration line for the determination of the polymeric HALS in the PP materials containing the flame retardant.

Direct analysis of an oligomeric hindered amine light stabilizer in polypropylene materials by MALDI-MS using a solid sampling technique to study its photostabilizing action.

A novel method for the direct analysis of small amounts of an oligomeric hindered amine light stabilizer (HALS) occluded in polypropylene (PP) material was developed to study its photostabilizing action on the basis of matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS) using a solid sampling technique while avoiding troublesome solvent extraction. In this sampling protocol, the powdered mixture of PP composite sample containing trace amounts of an oligomeric HALS, Adekastab LA-68LD (MW = 1900), and the matrix reagent (dithranol) was spotted on the sample plate, then ion exchanged water was deposited onto the mixture to make a suspension, and finally, the dried mixture adhered on the plate was subjected to MALDI-MS measurement. On the mass spectrum thus obtained by the solid sampling MALDI, the molecular ions of the HALS desorbed from the PP composite were clearly observed as three major series of the HALS components in the range up to about m/z 7000 with little interference by the PP substrate and the other additives. Moreover, in the MALDI-MS spectra for the UV-exposed sample, the satellite peaks around the major HALS components proved to enhance significantly, reflecting the oxidized HALS species at the tetramethylpiperidine units to cause the photostabilizing action. In addition, hydrolyzed HALS species were also observed for the irradiated sample. These results suggest that not only the oxidation reaction but also the hydrolysis or decomposition of the oligomeric HALS components competitively proceed in the PP composites during UV exposure.

Highly sensitive determination of a polymeric hindered amine light stabilizer in polypropylene by reactive thermal desorption-gas chromatography using nitrogen-specific detection.

Highly sensitive and specific determination of trace amounts of a polymeric hindered amine light stabilizer (HALS) in polypropylene (PP) materials could be established by improving reactive thermal desorption-gas chromatography (RTD-GC) in the presence of an organic alkali, tetramethylammonium hydroxide. By using nitrogen-phosphorus detection, highly selective detection of the HALS-related components was attained. In addition, the use of a polar poly(ethylene glycol) separation column alleviated the adsorption of minor specific pyrolysis products. This modified RTD-GC method allowed the determination of the polymeric HALS (Mr 1900) in PP even for trace concentrations between 100 and 500 ppm, through observing selectively the characteristic products containing a tetramethylpiperidine moiety, which had been impossible to detect under the previous RTD-GC conditions using a non-polar separation column and conventional flame ionization detection.