FTIR Spectroscopy for Material Identification & More
Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy, also known as FTIR Analysis or FTIR Spectroscopy, is an analytical technique used to identify organic, polymeric, and in some cases, inorganic materials. The FTIR analysis method uses infrared light to scan test samples and observe chemical properties.
FTIR Analysis from LTI’s Chemistry Specialists
Laboratory Testing Inc. performs FTIR analysis with a high-tech Thermo Scientific Nicolet iS10 FT-IR spectrometer. The test is performed in absorbance, but can be converted to transmittance. Both qualitative and quantitative information about the test sample can be provided.
- Assessing purity
- Base polymer composition
- Organic contaminants
- General type of material being analyzed when there are unknowns
Analyzing Samples in a Variety of Forms
- Solids placed on a crystal
- Liquids placed between two sodium chloride plates
- Thin film placed in a cassette
- Powdered sample mixed with potasium bromide and placed in a pellet
Additional Chemistry Services from LTI
FTIR spectroscopy compliments the wide-range of instrumental and wet chemistry services performed at LTI for materials characterization, qualitative and quantitative element analysis and failure analysis on a variety of materials including metals, powdered metals, ores, ferroalloys, composites and ceramics. Laboratory Testing Inc. is fully capable of preparing test specimens for all analysis.
The Test Process
FTIR analysis can be accomplished by Attenuated Total Reflectance (ATR), Nujol and thin film. Enough sample is required to obtain an absorption spectrum during FTIR analysis. Solid samples are usually prepared by shaving some material off of the sample that is thin enough to obtain a good spectrum.
The first step is to collect a background spectra to subtract from the test spectra to ensure the actual sample is all that is analyzed. Next, the sample is analyzed by LTI’s fully-computerized Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy system which generates the absorbance spectra showing the unique chemical bonds and the molecular structure of the sample material. This profile is in the form of an absorption spectrum which shows peaks representing components in higher concentration. Absorbance peaks on the spectrum indicate functional groups (e.g. alkanes, ketones, acid chlorises). Different types of bonds, and thus different functional groups, absorb infrared radiation of different wavelengths. Although the analysis is performed in absorbance, it can be converted to transmittance, since they are simply the inversions of each other.
The analytical spectrum is then compared in a reference library program with cataloged spectra to identify components or to find a “best match” for unknown material using the cataloged spectra for known materials.
See the process in our FTIR Analysis Video below.
- Identification of organic, polymeric, and in some cases, inorganic materials including sample composition, additives, contaminants and unknown materials
- Analysis performed in absorbance or transmittance
- Library of reference spectra