Characterization of cross-linking structures in UV-cured acrylic ester resin by MALDI-MS combined with supercritical methanolysis

Anal Sci. 2006 Nov;22(11):1403-7. doi: 10.2116/analsci.22.1403.

Abstract

The cross-linking structure of the ultra violet (UV)-cured resin prepared from dipentaerithritol hexacrylate (DPHA) was characterized by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS) combined with supercritical methanolysis. The MALDI-mass spectrum of the decomposition products obtained by supercritical methanolysis contained a series of peaks of sodium-cationized methyl acrylate (MA) oligomers up to around m/z = 4000 formed through selective cleavage and methylation occurred at ester linkages in UV-cured DPHA. Furthermore, in order to observe widely distributed sequence lengths in the cross-linking junctions, the decomposed products of the cured resin were then fractionated using size exclusion chromatography followed by the MALDI-MS measurements of the individual fractions. The MALDI-mass spectra of the lower molar mass fractions mainly consisted of a series of peaks of MA oligomers around m/z values of several thousands, whereas those of higher molecular weight showed a broad peak up to m/z ca. 180000. The observed distributions of the supercritical methanolysis products suggested that the network junctions in the given UV-cured resin were composed of up to around 2000 acrylate units.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Acrylates / chemistry
  • Acrylic Resins / chemistry*
  • Acrylic Resins / radiation effects*
  • Cross-Linking Reagents / chemistry*
  • Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization / methods
  • Ultraviolet Rays

Substances

  • Acrylates
  • Acrylic Resins
  • Cross-Linking Reagents
  • methyl acrylate