Analytical Solutions for Analysis of Polymer Additives

Importance of the Topic

Polymer additives are critical for enhancing the durability, functionality and safety of plastic products across industries such as packaging, transportation, electronics and pharmaceuticals. With growing regulatory demands to monitor leachables and support circular‐economy recycling, robust analytical methods for both organic and inorganic additives are essential for product quality and compliance.

Objectives and Overview of the Study

This application note presents a series of case studies demonstrating Shimadzu analytical solutions for the quantitative and qualitative analysis of polymer additives. It covers methods ranging from LC‐MS/MS and GC‐MS through FTIR/EDX to advanced screening techniques, illustrating workflows for plastic pellets, packaging films, industrial components and composite materials.

Methodology and Instrumentation

Quantitative LC‐MS/MS (LCMS-8045/9030) was applied to measure 22 antioxidants, UV absorbers and stabilizers in pellet samples. EDX (EDX-7200) with fundamental‐parameter correction quantified antimony flame‐retardant synergists at ppm levels. Pyrolysis‐TD-GC-MS and the Polymer Additives Library enabled solvent‐free identification of organophosphorus plasticizers and retardants. FTIR (IRTracer-100) combined with EDX resolved PVC matrices and inorganic fillers. LC-QTOF (LCMS-9030) with LabSolutions Insight and ACD/MS Structure ID Suite detected and confirmed 14 common stabilizers in food packaging. Thermal extraction GC-MS (OPTIC-4) profiled extractables in pharmaceutical containers. DART-MS provided rapid, non-destructive screening of residual N-methylpyrrolidone in prepreg composites. GPC with RID and PDA detectors plus i-PDeA II deconvolution simultaneously assessed polymer molecular‐weight distributions and trace additives. MALDI-TOF MS with AccuSpot fractionation analyzed oligomer distributions and trace antioxidants in acrylic sheets.

Key Results and Discussion

LC‐MS/MS achieved calibration coefficients ≥0.995 and quantified additives between 0.24 and 16.6 mg/g in PP, polybutylene, LDPE and ABS. EDX detection limits reached 9.8 ppm for Sb, enabling rapid RoHS-style screening in two minutes. Py/TD-GC-MS identified PIP(3:1) and TDCPP at 10 mg/kg detection limits without solvents. Library-driven GC-MS analyses characterized multiple antioxidants and crosslinkers in unknown elastomers. FTIR/EDX corroborated the presence of calcium carbonate filler in PVC connectors. LC-QTOF workflows confidently identified and quantified stabilizers from μg/g to mg/g levels in packaging films. Thermal extraction GC-MS differentiated plasticizers and degradation products under varying extraction modes. DART-MS selectively detected residual solvents in composite prepregs with minimal sample prep. GPC deconvolution resolved three overlapping additive peaks while providing Mw and Mn distributions. MALDI-TOF profiling uncovered oligomer series and trace Irganox 1010 in acrylic samples.

Benefits and Practical Applications

These integrated workflows accelerate polymer development, support safety and compliance of food and pharmaceutical containers, and optimize recycling feedstock quality. Automated sample introduction and high‐resolution detection reduce analysis times and increase confidence in trace additive identification.

Future Trends and Potential Applications

Combining spectral libraries with AI-driven peak deconvolution, higher-throughput two-dimensional chromatography and ambient ionization will further streamline additive profiling. Advances in headspace trap sensitivity and multiplexed MS detectors promise more robust screening for regulatory and circular‐economy requirements.

Conclusion

Shimadzu’s comprehensive portfolio—spanning chromatography, mass spectrometry, spectroscopy and dedicated libraries—enables sensitive, selective and rapid analysis of polymer additives. These solutions address evolving demands for product safety, regulatory compliance and sustainable materials management.

Instrumentation Used

• LCMS-8045 and LCMS-9030 Triple Quadrupole and Q-TOF Mass Spectrometers
• GCMS-QP2020 NX with Smart EI/CI Ion Source and OPTIC-4 Inlet
• HS-20 NX Trap Headspace Sampler
• IRTracer-100 FTIR Spectrophotometer
• EDX-7200 Energy Dispersive X-ray Fluorescence Spectrometer
• DART Ion Source coupled to Triple Quadrupole MS
• Size Exclusion Chromatography with RID and PDA Detectors
• AccuSpot Fractionation System with MALDI-TOF MS

References

• Shimadzu Application Note C10G-E095: Analytical Solutions for Analysis of Polymer Additives