Overview
EN ISO 10927:2018 - Plastics: Determination of the molecular mass and molecular mass distribution of polymer species by MALDI‑TOF‑MS - specifies a general, standardized relative method for measuring average molecular mass and molecular mass distribution of polymers in the range 2 000 g·mol−1 to 20 000 g·mol−1. Results are calculated from a calibration curve constructed using synthetic‑polymer and/or biopolymer standards. The method is not applicable to polyolefins or to polymers with polydispersity (PDI) > 1.2.
Key topics and technical requirements
- Scope and limits
- Mass range: 2 000–20 000 g·mol−1
- Exclusions: polyolefins; polymers with PDI > 1.2
- Classified as a relative technique (requires calibrants)
- Sample preparation
- Use of appropriate matrix, solvents and salts
- Procedures for preparing polymer/matrix/salt solutions and depositing samples on the target plate
- Instrumentation
- MALDI sample introduction/target, laser source, flight tube, detector
- Data acquisition hardware and data handling requirements
- Calibration and data processing
- Construction of a calibration curve using synthetic‑polymer and/or biopolymer standards
- Calibration approaches described: calibration with synthetic standards, with biopolymer standards, and self‑calibration
- Signal intensity axis calibration and mass‑axis calibration
- Calculation of molecular mass distribution and average molecular masses
- Quality and reporting
- Precision considerations, required test report elements and annexed calibrant information
Applications and who uses this standard
- Polymer laboratories performing composition and molecular‑weight analysis
- Quality control (QC) and production labs in plastics manufacturing for specification and batch verification
- Research & development groups studying polymerization processes and structure–property relationships
- Instrument manufacturers and service labs validating MALDI‑TOF‑MS methods
- Use cases: characterization of synthetic polymers and biopolymers for product development, comparative studies between labs, and standardizing MALDI‑TOF‑MS results for regulatory or commercial specifications
Related standards
- Complements other polymer molecular‑mass methods (e.g., size‑exclusion chromatography/GPC) and broader ISO/CEN standards on plastics testing and physicochemical analysis. Use EN ISO 10927:2018 where MALDI‑TOF‑MS is the preferred technique for the specified mass range and sample types.
Keywords: EN ISO 10927:2018, MALDI‑TOF‑MS, molecular mass distribution, polymer characterization, calibration curve, plastics testing, polydispersity, mass spectrometry.