Characterization of additives of PVAc and acrylic waterborne dispersions and paints by analytical pyrolysis-GC-MS and pyrolysis-silylation-GC-MS

Both acrylic and PVAc paints presented poly(ethylene oxide) (POE) type fragments dominating the background of their pyrograms, especially when derivatized by means of hexamethyldisilazane (HMDS). For the first time, additives such as alkyl sulfate and alkyl ether sulfate with C10 and C12 alkyl chains, poly(ethoxylate) fatty alcohol and octylphenyl poly(ethoxylate) surfactants were identified, as well as polyvinyl alcohol (PVOH) protective colloids, hydrophobically modified ethoxylated urethane (HEUR) thickeners an defoamers. Their major fragments and corresponding mass spectra are discussed.