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Real‐time monitoring of the progress of polymerization reactions directly on surfaces at open atmosphere by ambient mass spectrometry
Author(s) -
Nørgaard Asger W.,
Vaz Boniek G.,
Lauritsen Frants R.,
Eberlin Marcos N.
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
rapid communications in mass spectrometry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.528
H-Index - 136
eISSN - 1097-0231
pISSN - 0951-4198
DOI - 10.1002/rcm.4794
Subject(s) - chemistry , mass spectrometry , atmosphere (unit) , polymerization , selected reaction monitoring , analytical chemistry (journal) , environmental chemistry , chromatography , organic chemistry , tandem mass spectrometry , polymer , physics , thermodynamics
The progress of an on‐surface polymerization process involving alkyl and perfluoroalkyl silanes and siloxanes was monitored in real‐time via easy ambient sonic spray ionization mass spectrometry (EASI‐MS). When sprayed on surfaces, the organosilicon compounds present in commercially available nanofilm products (NFPs) react by condensation to form a polymeric coating. A NFP for coating of floor materials (NFP‐1) and a second NFP for coating tiles and ceramics (NFP‐2) were applied to glass, filter paper or cotton surfaces and the progress of the polymerization was monitored by slowly scanning the surface. Via EASI(+)‐MS monitoring, significant changes in the composition of hydrolysates and condensates of 1 H ,1 H ,2 H ,2 H ‐perfluorooctyl triisopropoxysilane (NFP‐1) and hexadecyl triethoxysilane (NFP‐2) were observed over time. The abundances of the hydrolyzed species decreased compared with those of the non‐hydrolysed species for both NFP‐1 and NFP‐2 and the heavier oligomers became relatively more abundant over a period of 15–20 min. A similar tendency favouring the heavier oligomers was observed via EASI(−)‐MS. This work illustrates the potential of ambient mass spectrometry for the direct monitoring of polymerization reactions on surfaces. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.