ISO 10927:2018

Overview

ISO 10927:2018 specifies a standardized MALDI-TOF-MS method for determining the average molecular mass and molecular mass distribution of polymers. The scope covers polymer species with molecular masses from 2 000 g·mol−1 to 20 000 g·mol−1. Results are obtained as a relative method using calibration curves constructed from synthetic-polymer and/or biopolymer standards. The standard excludes polyolefins and polymers with polydispersity > 1.2.

Keywords: ISO 10927:2018, MALDI-TOF-MS, molecular mass distribution, polymers, calibration standards.

Key topics and requirements

• Scope and applicability
  • Range: 2 000–20 000 g·mol−1.
  • Not applicable to polyolefins or polymers with polydispersity >1.2.
• Principle
  • Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS): laser desorption of polymer/matrix co-crystals, ionization, flight-time measurement and mass calibration.
• Reagents and consumables
  • Recommended matrices: DHB (2,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid), DCTB, dithranol (≥97% purity).
  • Solvents: THF (high-purity; antioxidant recommended), and optionally toluene, methanol, acetone depending on solubility.
  • Salts for cationization: lithium, sodium, potassium, cesium and silver trifluoroacetate; AgNO3 with safety considerations.
• Standards and calibration
  • Use synthetic or biopolymer calibrants with known repeating units/end groups within the target mass range (see Annex A).
  • Mass-axis calibration methods described (synthetic and biopolymer calibrants, self-calibration).
• Instrumentation and data
  • Components: sample target, laser source, flight tube (TOF), detector (linear/reflector), data acquisition and handling.
  • Procedures: sample preparation, deposition, instrument settings, spectrum recording, data processing, and calculation of Mn, Mw, Mz and distribution.
• Reporting and precision
  • Specifies calculation methods, precision data (Annex B), and required test-report content.

Applications and users

ISO 10927:2018 is valuable for:

• Polymer R&D and analytical laboratories performing molecular mass characterization.
• Quality control and specification testing in polymer production and polymer commerce.
• Academic researchers studying polymerization processes and structure–property correlations.
• Laboratories aiming to improve inter-lab comparability of MALDI-TOF-MS results through standardized methods.

Practical uses include rapid determination of average molecular masses and distributions for soluble polymers, process monitoring, and complementing size-exclusion chromatography (SEC/GPC) data where MALDI-TOF-MS is suitable.

Related standards

• ISO 472 (Plastics - Vocabulary) is referenced for terms and definitions.
• Developed by ISO/TC 61/SC 5 (Plastics - Physical-chemical properties).

For anyone implementing ISO 10927:2018, focus on compliant sample preparation, appropriate calibrants, and documented instrument settings to ensure reliable, comparable MALDI-TOF-MS polymer mass distributions.