Use of the time-of-flight mass spectrometer to study the volatile products from mechanical degradation of polymers in a vibration grinder

Abstract

Problems about the use of the mass-spectrometry method to study the compositions and kinetics of evolution of volatile products formed during the process of mechanical degradation of polymers in a vibration grinder are examined. A vibration ball mill was directly connected to the vacuum chamber of a time-of-flight mass analyzer. By use of this method, mass spectra of the volatile products evolved during vibration grinding of samples of polymethyl methacrylate, polytetrafluoroethylene, polyethylene, and poly-α-methylstyrene have been obtained. The possibility of studying the kinetics of evolution of volatile products as a function of the amplitude and duration of grinding has been shown in the case of polymethyl methacrylate and of polytetrafluoroethylene.