This monograph provides systematic coverage of the latest instrumental methods for monitoring, deformulation, and troubleshooting of polymer/additive systems, with an emphasis on additive analysis. Current analytical strategy and best practice of this multidisciplinary field are outlined and illustrated with key industrial applications and case studies. The book offers detailed coverage of sample preparation, separation, identification, hyphenation and quantification techniques, and much more. With over 3,000 citations, it serves as a reference as well as a practical guide.

From the Preface: “...Rather than being a compendium, cookery book or laboratory manual for qualitative and/or quantitative analysis of specific additives in a variety of commercial polymers, with no limits to impractical academic exoticism (analysis for its own sake), the book focuses on the fundamental characteristics of the arsenal of techniques utilised industrially in direct relation to application in real-life polymer/additive analysis.”

Target Audience: Research and development, laboratory, and quality control personnel in the polymer, rubber, concentrate and additive industries; also technologists in end-use industries (e.g., automotive, medical, and packaging), as well as upper level students and academics concerned with analysis of additives in polymers.

Table of Contents:

Introduction

Deformulation Principles

Sample Preparation Perspectives

Separation Techniques

Polymer/Additive Analysis: The Spectroscopic Alternative

Organic Mass-Spectrometric Methods

Multihyphenation and Multidimensionality of Polymer/Additive Analysis

Inorganic and Element Analytical Methods

Direct Methods of Deformulation of Polymer/Additive Dissolutions

A Vision for the Future

Appendix I: List of Symbols

Appendix II: Functionality of Common Additives Used in Commercial Thermoplastics, Rubbers and Thermosetting Resins

Appendix III: Specimen Polymer Additives Product Sheets

Index