The Utility of Pyrolysis–Gas Chromatography–Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry for the Characterization of Polystyrene

Pyrolysis–gas chromatography–time-of-flight mass spectrometry (Py-GC-TOFMS) is a powerful technique for characterizing polymers that are difficult to analyze directly due to their high molecular weight or limited volatility. By thermally decomposing the polymer into smaller, volatile fragments, Py-GC-TOFMS generates reproducible chromatographic “fingerprints” that enable identification, quality control, and detection of additives or contaminants. Py-GC-TOFMS is widely applied in plastics analysis, forensic materials testing, and degradation studies. In this application note, we used Py-GC-TOFMS for the analysis of polystyrene.