Determination of ultratrace metallic impurities in fluorocarbon polymers by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry after decomposition with a combustion system

A combustion system method for determining ultra-trace impurities in fluorocarbon polymers was developed. 200 mg polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) material samples were inserted into a quartz combustion system and decomposed for 30 min in air. Sodium-, potassium-, calcium-, copper-, and iron-concentrations in the raw PTFE materials ranged between 2–96, 1–35, 4–18, <1 and 12–97 ng g−1, respectively, with blank levels of 0.3, 0.2, 0.4, 0.2, and 0.5 ng/analysis, respectively. The impurity profiles of the fluorocarbon polymers indicated that the polymers were contaminated as a result of the polymer processing procedures. The technique reported herein gives low blank concentrations and is a rapid and safe analytical method for fluorocarbon polymers.