Soft ionisation mass spectrometry was used to investigate the oxidative decomposition of an epoxy resin/carbon fibre composite using thermogravimetry (TG) coupled with mass spectrometry (MS). Through comparison between decomposition in air and in argon, it was recognized that the first step of the oxidative decomposition of the epoxy resins was similar to the decomposition in argon. During the devolatilisation process, the oxidative decomposition underwent a thermal decomposition leading to the formation of a large amount of volatile products which were subsequently oxidized into water and carbon dioxide. The gas produced in the thermal decomposition was not oxidized completely leaving some organic volatiles in the emissions. Using soft ionisation, the components of the evolved gases were identified by mass spectrometry. (c) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.