title: Ambient Characterization of Synthetic Fibers by Laser Ablation Electrospray Ionization Mass Spectrometry.
abstract: Direct analysis of synthetic fibers under ambient conditions is highly desired to identify the polymer, the finishes applied and irregularities that may compromise its performance and value. In this paper, laser ablation electrospray ionization ion mobility time-of-flight mass spectrometry (LAESI-IMS-TOF-MS) was used for the analysis of synthetic polymers and fibers. The key to this analysis was the absorption of laser light by aliphatic and aromatic nitrogen functionalities in the polymers. Analysis of polyamide (PA) 6, 46, 66, and 12 pellets and PA 6, 66, polyaramid and M5 fibers yielded characteristic fragment ions without any sample pretreatment, enabling their unambiguous identification. Synthetic fibers are, in addition, commonly covered with a surface layer for improved adhesion and processing. The same setup, but operated in a transient infrared matrix-assisted laser desorption electrospray ionization (IR-MALDESI) mode, allowed the detailed characterization of the fiber finish layer and the underlying polymer. Differences in finish layer distribution may cause variations in local properties of synthetic fibers. Here we also show the feasibility of mass spectrometry imaging (MSI) of the distribution of a finish layer on the synthetic fiber and the successful detection of local surface defects.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Organic Chemistry, Wageningen University , Stippeneng 4, 6708 WE Wageningen, The Netherlands.|TI-COAST , Science Park 904, 1098 XH Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Fred A M G
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-4284-6333
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: van Geenen
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Organic Chemistry, Wageningen University , Stippeneng 4, 6708 WE Wageningen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Maurice C R
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-3615-9115
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Franssen
authors.affiliation: Teijin Aramid Research , P.O. Box 5153, 6802 ED Arnhem, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Anton H M
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Schotman
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Organic Chemistry, Wageningen University , Stippeneng 4, 6708 WE Wageningen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Han
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-5773-8506
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zuilhof
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Organic Chemistry, Wageningen University , Stippeneng 4, 6708 WE Wageningen, The Netherlands.|RIKILT, Wageningen University & Research , P.O. Box 230, 6700 AE Wageningen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Michel W F
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-4634-0249
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Nielen