Characterization of Synthetic Polyamides by MALDI-TOF Mass Spectrometry

MALDI-TOF-MS technique was applied to obtain structural and compositional information of synthetic polyamides, Nylon6 and Nylon66. Mass spectra of both the original and the hydrolyzed polyamide samples were analyzed using the self calibration method as well as the internal calibration method with the standard materials of known masses. The MALDI-TOF mass spectra of Nylon6 samples showed the presence of protonated, sodiated, and potassiated ions that were assigned to cyclic and NH2/COOH terminated linear oligomers. From the MALDI-TOF mass spectra of Nylon66 samples, the potassiated linear oligomers with three different end groups are identified as well as the cyclic oligomers, i.e., NH2/COOH terminated oligomers, NH2/NH2 terminated oligomers, and COOH/COOH terminated oligomers. Full characterization of the molecular species and end groups present in the polyamide samples has been achieved, and also the changes in mass spectral patterns after the hydrolysis of the samples are presented.