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Additive Analysis

Identification and quantitation of additive packages in polymeric materials

Mixtures of additives (additive packages) are added to polymer materials to enhance, change, or protect their properties. These packages can include a number of common additives or proprietary additive moieties. Impact Analytical has more than 20 years of experience providing analytical analyses on various types of polymer additives. And our laboratory is equipped with the most advanced instrumentation to perform your analysis.

Impact Analytical has developed specific methods for the isolation and quantitative of additive packages from all major classes of polymers. The isolated components can be analyzed by LC-MS, GC-MS, HPLC, and/or SEC-MALLS (if high molecular weight HALS additives are suspected to be present) to characterize all possible additives present in the material. These characterizations can include:

⦁ Identification of unknown, proprietary additive molecules
⦁ Quantitation of individual additives
⦁ Detection of additive oxidation products, indicating possible degradation of polymer material

Impact Analytical has methods to characterize all classes of additives, including:

⦁ Plasticizers – Additives present to alter the tensile properties of the material
⦁ UV stabilizers – Additives present to absorb harmful UV radiation from degrading polymer material
⦁ Thermal stabilizers – Additives present to absorb excessive thermal stress from degrading the polymer material
⦁ Hindered amine light stabilizers (HALS) – additives of various molecular weights present to absorb harmful light energy from degrading polymer material

The Impact Analytical work process

When you work with Impact Analytical, our experts will first consult with you to discuss the objectives for the project and gather any available information about the product. Background information about the product can greatly aid in the identification of additives as well as reduce the time required for the project. Our experts will work with you and will work internally to develop the most efficient analysis and to select the most appropriate techniques for the project.

Techniques used for the process

Most additive analyses will require some separation of components within the sample. LC-MS, GC-MS, and HPLC-UV are routinely used for additive analyses. Our LC-MS can provide accurate mass information on components in the sample, which leads to timely assignments for the components in the product. Other advanced instrumentation is available within our laboratory to assist with the additive analyses. These other instruments include NMR, FT-IR, ICP, and several other instruments. Only the most appropriate techniques will be used for your project helping you to manage the cost of the project.

Final product

Impact Analytical will communicate with you during your additive analysis to ensure that your project objectives are met. Throughout the project you will be able to determine whether or not your needs have been satisfied and to determine if additional testing is required to satisfy your needs. A quality additive analysis will be the end product of our testing.

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