Elasticity is one of the most important properties of rubber materials. During processing rubbers are modified by additives and fillers to form products with a desired colour and exhibiting specific mechanical and electrical properties. To characterize these complex properties, the analysis of the gases evolved from silicone rubbers at specific temperatures, as well as their combustion products, provides valuable information to researchers. With the combination of established techniques such as thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and gas chromatography- mass spectrometry (GC/MS) it is possible to accurately separate and analyse evolved gas compounds.
In this application note we will compare the results of a common unknown silicon rubber sample being analyzed using both modes on the same apparatus. The gas evolved from the silicone rubber sample in both modes is then further investigated with the GC/MS via the heated TL8500e hyphenation transfer line.