Compositional Analysis of Acryric Coatings by Pyrolysis-Gas Chromatography Using Multiple Regression Analysis

A method for the compositional analysis of acrylic coatings by pyrolysis-gas chromatography is described. Pyrolysis was performed at 590°C using a Curie-point pyrolyzer. The compositional butyl acrylate (BA) /ethyl methacrylate (EMA) ratio in the 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) -BA-EMA terpolymers can be determined from the BA/EMA and BA monomer/dimer ratio in the pyrolytic products using multiple regression analysis. Similarly, in the case of HEMA-BA-EMA-styrene (St) four-component polymers, the compositional BA/EMA and St/EMA ratio can be determined from the BA/EMA, St/EMA, and BA monomer/dimer ratio in the pyrolytic products using multiple regression analysis. The compositional ratio among BA, EMA, and St in the HEMA-BA-EMA-St four-component polymers cross-linked with butoxy melamine resin, containing TiO2 pigment as model coating compounds, can be estimated from the BA/EMA, St/EMA, and BA monomer/dimer ratios in the pyrolytic products. The compositional analysis of acrylic coatings can be accomplished successfully regardless of pyrolytic HEMA yield by this proposed method.