Characterisation of Plastics via FTIR Spectroscopy
Impact Solutions provides FTIR (Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy) analysis to identify, characterise, and investigate plastic materials.
This technique is widely used to determine polymer type, detect contamination, and support failure analysis across industries, including packaging, automotive, and construction.
What is FTIR Analysis?
Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) is a non-destructive micro-analytical technique used to identify the “molecular fingerprint” of polymeric materials. By measuring molecular vibrations, FTIR allows for the rapid qualitative identification of polymers, additives, and contaminants, making it the primary tool for plastic characterisation and failure analysis.
FTIR, which is equipped with an attenuated total reflectance (ATR) attachment, offers a fast, reliable, consistent, cost-effective, and most importantly non-destructive analysis in plastics. The main polymer compound, additives (up to a certain level), polymer blends, water content, oxidation, degradation, and chemical contact in the plastics can be easily identified in seconds using the FTIR.
Impact Solutions is equipped with a Thermo Nicolet is10, FTIR coupler with an ATR attachment. In addition, we own a large library of reference FTIR polymer spectra and can perform material comparisons in hundreds of polymer compounds.
