Polyamides (nylon) composition analysis by capillary zone electrophoresis.

A new and simple method of analysis for polyamide composition is described. Polymer samples were decomposed to their corresponding monomers by hydrobromic acid (HBr) and the decomposed products were analyzed by capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE). Amines from polyamides were derivatized with fluorescamine and detected by UV at 280 nm. Aliphatic acids were detected by direct UV at 205 nm. Sample treatment is much simpler than published methods, and electropherograms show a good separation of decomposed products under the proper conditions.