Epoxy Analysis

Technique Used:  Static Headspace coupled with GC/MS

A sample of a failing epoxy was analyzed to see whether it contained anything different from an epoxy known to work well. Static headspace and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) were used to see whether any qualitative differences could be found in the outgas products of the good and bad epoxies. The figure below shows the gas chromatograms of the good epoxy (top chromatogram) and the failed epoxy (bottom chromatogram). The failed epoxy shows higher concentrations of benzene (cluster of peaks at retention time of approximately 9 min) than found in the good epoxy.