Evaluation of Oblique Light-Induced Degradation of Indoor Line Tape by Mass Spectrometry (1): Qualitative Analysis of Tape Substrate and Adhesive
MSTips No. 530
Indoor line tapes are widely used in factories, warehouses, and public facilities for purposes such as pathway demarcation and safety indication. However, even in indoor environments, prolonged use may lead to changes in appearance and deterioration in performance due to the influence of lighting and external light. In this study, a case was examined in which indoor line tape used for approximately eight months exhibited a degradation phenomenon where the color of the pigmented layer disappeared due to the influence of oblique light. The objective was to evaluate this oblique light-induced degradation and to clarify its underlying causes. For the evaluation, qualitative analysis of the substrate layer and adhesive layer constituting the tape was first carried out using the direct EGA-MS (Evolved Gas Analysis–Mass Spectrometry) method. This technique enabled direct detection of thermally decomposed products from each constituent layer, allowing for characterization of the material composition.