Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry is a technique for the separation and detection of chemical components from complex mixtures. It is suited to the analysis of small quantities of material and is therefore ideal for providing detailed chemical information on the organic materials found in paint samples.
It is particularly valuable for the identification of natural products such as oils and resins, where specific molecular indicators can distinguish between different species and can also be used to distinguish the different drying oils in paint samples, such as linseed and walnut oil.