LETTER www.msletters.org | Mass Spectrometry Letters Paint Spray Mass Spectrometry for the Detection of Additives from Polymers on Conducting Surfaces

Abstract: Paint Spray is developed as a direct sampling ionisation method for mass spectrometric analysis of additives in poly-mer-based surface coatings. The technique simply involves applying an external high voltage (5 kV) to the wetted sample placed in front of the mass spectrometer inlet and represents a much simpler ionisation technique compared to those currently available. The capabilities of Paint Spray are demonstrated herein with the detection of four commercially available hindered amine light stabilisers; TINUVIN ® 770, TINUVIN ® 292, TINUVIN ® 123 and TINUVIN ® 152 directly from thermoset polyester-based coil coatings. Paint Spray requires no sample preparation or pre-treatment and combined with its simplicity – requiring no special-ised equipment – makes it ideal for use by non-specialists. The application of Paint Spray for industrial use has significant poten-tial as sample collection from a coil coating production line and Paint Spray ionisation could enable fast quality control screening at high sensitivity