Structural Characterization of Branched Polyesters Using TOF-SIMS Combined with Transesterification

Mass spectrometry technique provides the molecular weight distribution, data on the sequence of repeat units, polymer additives, and impurities, and structural information. time-of-Flight secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry (TOF-SIMS) has been used for structural characterization of various polymers1-2. the masses of repeat units and terminal groups and molecular weight distributions of polymers have been determined from their TOF-SIMS spectra. TOF-SMIS provides good sensitivity and structural specificity for high mass ions so that intact oligomers and large polymer fragments are observed. In this study, we investigated the detailed structural information on the oligomers and fragment ions of branched poly(1,3-butylene adipate) and branched poly[di(ethylene glycol) adipate] and the transesterification products of branched polyesters with trifluoroacetic acid or chloro difluoroacetic acid. Branched polyesters were chosen because they are important polymers but difficult to characterize; thus branched polyesters provide challanging test for TOF-SIMS. TOF-SIMS spectra of polyesters are obtained from thin polymer films cast from solution on a silver substrate. A good solvent for a polumer solution disrupts intermolecular forces between polymer chains but leaves the polumer intact. Transesterification reactions are potentially useful for characterization of high molecular weight and intractable polyesters. Transesterification products of polyesters and trifluoroacetic acid or an integral number of polyester repeat units and an additional diol. The progress of such reactions was monitored using peak intensities of reactants and products in TOF-SIMS spectra. The increasing abundance of tagged ions indicates that the reaction has progressed with time.