Application of a pyrolysis-GC/MS system incorporating with micro-UV irradiation to rapid evaluation of the weatherability of acrylic coating paints for house exterior walls

A pyrolysis-GC/MS system incorporating with micro-UV irradiator (Xe–Hg lamp) was applied to the evaluation of the weatherability of the acrylic coating paints for house exterior walls. The deterioration of the materials during UV irradiation under thermal, and oxidative atmosphere was evaluated within a relatively short period of time with evolved gas analysis-mass spectrometry (EGA-MS) using a sub-milligram polymer sample. The EGA-MS thermograms indicated that both micro-UV irradiator with Xe–Hg lamp and weather meter with metal halide lamp caused similar photo, thermal, and oxidative degradation to the coating paint samples. Strong correlations between the results obtained by the UV/Py-GC/MS and that obtained by conventional weathering test using metal halide lamp was observed. It was suggested that UV/Py-GC/MS method could be used for compensating the conventional method by reducing the test period.