Abstract
The global nail polish market was estimated at over $15 billion USD) in 2023 and is expected to grow at a rate greater than 8% between 2024 and 2033. There are two main types of chemistry used for nail polish. The first is nitrocellulose dissolved in a solvent. The nitrocellulose hardens after the solvent evaporates. The other chemistry is based on acrylic polymers which polymerize as part of the application process. Other chemicals added to the polish may include photoinitiators, stabilizers, solvents, plasticizers,
pigments, thickeners, and even fragrances.
Pyrolysis GC-MS is a valuable tool for identifying polymers and polymer additives. A sample can be thermally extracted at low temperatures to identify polymer additives. The same sample can then be rerun at a higher temperature to pyrolyze it for polymer identification.
This work will identify the materials used in scented nail polishes. The GERSTEL pyrolysis system, in combination with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, was used for the analysis.
Keywords
Fractionated pyrolysis, fingernail polish, gas chromatography, mass spectrometry
