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Convalent Cationization Method for the Analysis of Polyethylene by Mass Spectrometry

Published

Author(s)

Barry J. Bauer, William E. Wallace, B M. Fanconi, Kathleen M. Flynn

Abstract

Polyethylene and other polyolefins have not been amenable to mass spectrometric characterization of molecular mass distribution due to the ineffectiveness of conventional methods of cationization. The lack of polar groups, unsaturation, and aromaticity excludes cationization methods that are used commonly for polymers. A new method is introduced in which an organic cation is covalently bonded to the polymer to produce the necessary ionization for successful matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) time-of-flight (TOF) mass spectrometry (MS). A strong MALDI signal results from modified polymers that give no response in their unmodified form.
Citation
Polymer
Volume
42
Issue
No. 25

Keywords

cationization, covalent, MALDI, mass spectrometry, polyethylene, polyolefin

Citation

Bauer, B. , Wallace, W. , Fanconi, B. and Flynn, K. (2001), Convalent Cationization Method for the Analysis of Polyethylene by Mass Spectrometry, Polymer, [online], https://tsapps.nist.gov/publication/get_pdf.cfm?pub_id=851911 (Accessed April 6, 2025)

Issues

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Created December 1, 2001, Updated February 19, 2017