Journal of Chemistry and Biochemistry

Evolved Gas Analysis of a Japanese Lacquer Film
Noriyasu Niimura

Abstract
Japanese lacquer is sap of lacquer trees. Since it dries into a tough and brilliant film, it has been used as the coating material for wood and pottery for long time. The structure of the lacquer film, which mainly consists of urushiol polymer, has been studied for several decades, but the detail remains to be solved. In this study, electron ionization and field ionization mass spectrometry were applied to investigate the structure of the film. Analyzing the evolved gas at 320 ˚C from the surface of the film, we revealed that the urushiol polymer is terminated with 3- pentadecylcatechol. Furthermore, this terminal group and plant gum are concentrated in the surface of the lacquer film.

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