Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR)
Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy is an analytical technique used in the identification and characterization of organic solids, liquids, and gases. Crane Engineering uses a Varian Excalibur 3100 FT-IR coupled to a UMA 600 microscope to analyze samples in a wide variety of formats. Our instrumentation measures the ability of matter to absorb, transmit, or reflect infrared radiation and our KnowItAll® software package relates the data to chemical composition.
How FT-IR works:
- Organic molecules absorb infrared radiation (heat) to rotate and vibrate about molecular bonds.
- Different types of bonds will absorb at different wavelengths of infrared radiation, and the FT-IR displays this phenomenon as a pattern called a spectrum.
- This spectrum is then interpreted to help identify the structure of the compounds present in the sample.
Uses:
- FT-IR is ideal for the analysis of plastics, paints, rubbers, molding impurities, pharmaceuticals, solutions, pure chemicals, residues, coatings, and many more specific applications.
- It is an excellent tool to compare failed or out-of-spec materials to known good samples to determine the chemical nature of the failed material.
Sample guidelines for FT-IR analysis:
- The utility of Crane Engineering’s FT-IR allows for the analysis of samples of all shapes, sizes, and forms. The sample can be a solid, liquid, or a gas. Solid sample size is variable, as they are often sectioned for analysis, though for non-destructive testing of a solid part it must be less than 1” tall and no larger than 1’ square.
- The microscope attachment to the FT-IR allows for the analysis of features as small as 20 microns in size under ideal conditions.
- Sampling techniques include KBr pellets, gas cells, liquid cells, transmittance, reflection-transmission, and attenuated total reflectance (ATR).
Please contact Kerri Schnell, for more specific details on sample guidelines and FT-IR analysis techniques.