Infrared - Chemical Composition and Identification of Polymers and Organic Compounds

FT-IR, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy, is an exceptional means for the profiling and screening of sample compounds. FT-IR testing is used to identify the chemical compounds in a wide range of products, including coatings, foods, paints, pharmaceuticals, consumer products, and polymers, to name a few. FT-IR is a useful analytical device for the detection of functional groups and describing covalent bonding data. In addition, FT-IR testing is useful in the determination and identification of all kinds of inorganic and organic compounds, identification of compounds in mixtures, as well as chromatographic effluents, functional groups of organic materials, and the molecular makeup of surfaces. Other FT-IR testing applications include impurities screening, contamination identification, gas calibration, and both qualitative and quantitative scans. In other words, FT-IR is a robust real-time monitoring methodology for the quantification and detection of multiple compounds in a simultaneous manner. Normally, FT-IR equipment and systems do not need to be calibrated. Calibration is not required due to the use of a standards library that includes calibrated infrared spectra stored on the hard disk drive of the system (or instrument) computer. Basically, the FT-IR testing system transmits an IR (infrared) beam of light through an area that is to be analyzed, then captures this beam after passing through the area and finally generates a full infrared spectrum of the light, resulting in the identification of the materials present and allows for the concentration to be identified.

Polyhedron performs several types of FT-IR testing, including:

FT-IR (Transmission) Testing:
FT-IR (Transmission) Testing is the most fundamental of the infrared spectroscopic sampling procedures. Basically, infrared radiation is passed through a sample area or region and the transmitted radiation is measured. The resultant spectra obtained will be representative of the whole sampled area as a whole. Typically, it is useful for thin samples or when looking at weak bands in thicker samples. In many cases, sample preparation requires production of potassium bromide (KBr) discs.
FT-IR (Attenuated Total Reflectance) Testing: Utilizing the ATR method, an IR beam is used to sample a surface via internal reflection of the light. The object is placed on the surface, and the IR light enters the surface through the evanescent area.

Micro FT-IR Analysis For Particles as Small as 10 Micrometers
FT-IR spectroscopy is a non-destructive, well-established, rapid method used to recognize materials. FT-IR testing is particularly useful with polymeric materials and organics. Micro FT-IR analysis can be utilized for samples as small as 10 microns across. The spatial resolution of this procedure is 10 micrometers, which allows for the determination of the composition of extremely small features on a variety of substrates. This method can also be used to study dopants in semiconductors and glasses.

Pyrolysis FT-IR by ASTM D 3677
Polyhedron Laboratories follows and adheres to ASTM (American Society for Testing and Materials) Standard D 3677. These test methods cover rubber classification and identification and are based on IR inspection of pyrolysis films and products (pyrolyzates). Pyrolysis is a type of incineration that leads to the chemical decomposition of organic materials by heat in the absence of oxygen.
Polyhedron Laboratories also provides FT-IR testing of gases, gases under pressure, potassium bromide pellets and micro pellets, as well as spectral subtraction, quantitation, comparison and library searching, and interpretation of spectra.