Method for relative quantitative analysis of polymer using MALDI mass spectrometry

1. A method for relative quantitative analysis of a polymer by MALDI mass spectrometry, comprising the steps of:

(S1) preparing a plurality of polymer specimens having a thickness variation of 30% or less by electrospray of a solution containing a polymer sample and a matrix through a mask for each concentration of the polymer sample;

(S2) obtaining a MALDI mass spectrum by irradiating a laser to each of the plurality of polymer specimens; and

(S3) preparing a quantitative calibration curve with a signal of the polymer sample from peak results of the MALDI mass spectrum.

2. The method for relative quantitative analysis of a polymer according to claim 1 , wherein the polymer sample comprises poly-(N-β-hydroxyethyl-2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-4-hydroxypiperidylsuccinate (Tinuvin 622), 2,2-bis(hydroxymethyl)butyric acid-poly(propylene glycol) (BHB-PPG), allylphenol-polydimethylsiloxane (AP-PDMS), H-polydimethylsiloxane (H-PDMS) or mixtures thereof.

3. The method for relative quantitative analysis of a polymer according to claim 1 , wherein the quantitative calibration curve is prepared by calculating a signal intensity ratio of the polymer sample and the matrix from the peak results of the MALDI mass spectrum and plotting it according to the concentration of the polymer sample.

4. The method for relative quantitative analysis of a polymer according to claim 1 , wherein in the step (S1), each of the polymer specimens is prepared by additionally adding an internal standard to the solution containing the polymer sample and the matrix.

5. The method for relative quantitative analysis of a polymer according to claim 4 , wherein the quantitative calibration curve for the polymer specimen having the polymer sample and the matrix additionally added with the internal standard is prepared by calculating a signal intensity ratio of the polymer sample and the internal standard from the MALDI mass spectrum obtained for the polymer specimen, and plotting it according to the concentration ratio of the polymer sample and the internal standard.

6. The method for relative quantitative analysis of a polymer according to claim 4 , wherein the internal standard is a polymer compound selected from poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG), poly(propylene glycol) (PPG), polystyrene (PS), or mixtures of two or more thereof.

7. The method for relative quantitative analysis of a polymer according to claim 1 , wherein the preparing each of the polymer specimens by electrospray through the mask comprises the steps of:

(i) preparing an electrospray apparatus comprising a sample plate and an electrospray main nozzle and mounting the mask on the sample plate; and

(ii) electrospraying the solution containing the polymer sample and the matrix onto the mask-mounted sample plate by the main nozzle,

wherein the mask comprises a hole through which the polymer sample solution electrosprayed from the main nozzle passes onto the sample plate so as to obtain a polymer specimen having a small thickness variation on the sample plate.

8. The method for relative quantitative analysis of a polymer according to claim 7 , wherein in the step (ii), the electrospray is performed after additionally adding an internal standard to the solution containing the polymer sample and the matrix.

9. The method for relative quantitative analysis of a polymer according to claim 7 , wherein the hole in the mask has a diameter of 1 to 2 mm.

10. The method for relative quantitative analysis of a polymer according to claim 7 , wherein the mask is made of stainless steel or aluminum.

11. The method for relative quantitative analysis of a polymer according to claim 7 , wherein the mounting of the mask on the sample plate further comprises the step of adjusting position of the mask in a direction of at least one of the x-axis, the y-axis or the z-axis.

12. The method for relative quantitative analysis of a polymer according to claim 7 , wherein the electrospray apparatus further comprises an auxiliary nozzle surrounding the main nozzle and coaxial with the main nozzle, and the electrospraying the polymer sample solution onto the sample plate by the main nozzle further comprises the step of spraying a solvent by the auxiliary nozzle to prevent the matrix from being deposited around the main nozzle.

13. The method for relative quantitative analysis of a polymer according to claim 12 , wherein the electrospray apparatus further comprises a sheath gas supply pipe surrounding the auxiliary nozzle and coaxial with the auxiliary nozzle, and the electrospraying the polymer sample solution onto the sample plate by the main nozzle further comprises the step of spraying a sheath gas from the sheath gas supply pipe to guide the solution so that the solution is sprayed to a predetermined position of the sample plate.

14. The method for relative quantitative analysis of a polymer according to claim 7 , wherein the area where the polymer sample solution is electrosprayed on the sample plate is 40 to 180 mm 2 .

15. The method for relative quantitative analysis of a polymer according to claim 14 , wherein the area where the polymer sample solution is electrosprayed on the sample plate is 40 to 80 mm 2 .

16. The method for relative quantitative analysis of a polymer according to claim 1 , wherein each of the polymer specimens has a thickness in the range of 500 nm to 10 μm.

17. The method for relative quantitative analysis of a polymer according to claim 1 , wherein the thickness variation of the polymer specimen is measured at three or more spots on the same one of the polymer specimens (spot-to-spot).

18. The method for relative quantitative analysis of a polymer according to claim 1 , wherein a relative standard deviation (RSD) range, which indicates an error of a result of the MALDI mass spectrum measured on each of the polymer specimens, is ±15% or less as measured at three or more spots on the same one of the polymer specimens (spot-to-spot).

19. The method for relative quantitative analysis of a polymer according to claim 1 , wherein the quantitative calibration curve is linear.