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Evaluation of field desorption mass spectrometry for the analysis of polyethylene
W J Evans1, D M Decoster, J Greaves
1Department of Chemistry, University of California-Irvine, Irvine, California, USA.
Abstract:
Field desorption mass spectrometry (FD-MS) has been evaluated for the analysis of low molecular weight polyethylene by using samples in the molecular weight range 600-2000 u as determined by gel permeation chromatography. The repeat units and end groups were characterized by FD-MS, but it was demonstrated that accurate molecular weight distribution data cannot be obtained for polyethylene by FD-MS because there is mass discrimination against the higher molecular weight polymers.
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