Analysis of Elastomers by Gas Chromatography
Abstract This study is the last stage in the design of a new analysis method for either pure or mixed elastomers. Such elastomers are polymers which, when brought to high temperatures, are dissociated into their basic constituent monomers (isoprene for natural rubber, isobutylene for butyl rubber, and so on) and other more or less volatile products. The principle of the study consists in analyzing such different fractions with a chromatographic unit which exhibit peaks used to differentiate various polymers according to their relative positions. The main novelty of the method is the elimination of less volatile fractions which are trapped in ice at 0° C, so that only lighter fractions are fed to the chromatograph. In order that the latter may be fully available or ready for analysis, pyrolysis is carried out directly in the carrier gas circuit, in a furnace set-up, instead of in the gas sample feeding system of the chromatographic unit. Pyrolysis made directly in the unit offers several advantages: Very accurate analysis, since all the pyrolyzate is fed to the unit; Very small samples (1–4 mg); Reduced handling.