Dresden 2026 – scientific programme

Parts | Days | Selection | Search | Updates | Downloads | Help

CPP: Fachverband Chemische Physik und Polymerphysik

CPP 46: Poster II

CPP 46.14: Poster

Thursday, March 12, 2026, 09:30–11:30, P5

Combined TGA-MS Analysis of Actively Aged Polymers for Assessing Recycling Potential — •Judith Bünte, Inga Ennen, Karsten Rott, and Andreas Hütten — Universität Bielefeld, Universitätsstraße 25, 33615 Bielefeld, Germany

Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) combined with mass spectrometry (MS) provides a powerful, complementary approach for characterizing the thermal stability and degradation pathways of polymers subjected to accelerated (active) aging. In this study, aged polymer samples, representing materials encountered in post-consumer recycling streams, are analyzed using simultaneous TGA-MS to monitor mass-loss events and identify evolved gaseous species. These results demonstrate that combined TGA-MS analysis can reveal chemical and structural changes that are not easily evident from bulk mechanical or spectroscopic testing alone. The findings support more accurate assessments of polymer recyclability, highlight indicators of material down-cycling, and inform optimization strategies for sorting, preprocessing, and reprocessing conditions. Ultimately, this work underscores the value of TGA-MS as a diagnostic tool for improving circular-economy approaches.