What is FTIR?

Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy or FTIR spectroscopy is known as an acute and meticulous analytical technique specifically for detecting or pinpointing organic compounds in polymeric and composite materials. Moreover, probing different types of chemical bonds makes FTIR capable of detecting inorganic materials. Quantitative analysis of organic materials in different compounds is another highlighted feature of FTIR spectroscopy.

The operation principle of FTIR is based on the interference of infrared (IR) rays and the molecular structure of the target specimen. The adsorption of the incident rays by specimen molecules causes them to vibrate or rotate at a specific frequency. The resulting wavelength of these vibrations or rotations can be recorded as a spectrum determining the sample's molecular structure.

LMATS offers FTIR spectroscopy to a wide range of industries in different fields, such as environment, food, forensics, pharmaceuticals, polymers, plastics, rubbers, and polymer-based composites, to name a few.

FTIR Spectroscopy Testing EquipmentFTIR Spectroscopy Testing Equipment FTIR Spectroscopy Sample Result - Standard Poly(vinylidene fluoride) + Poly(ethyl acrylate) 4:1 blendSample Result:
Standard Poly(vinylidene fluoride) + Poly(ethyl acrylate) 4:1 blend

FTIR applications:

FTIR spectroscopy is used in organic synthesis, polymer science, petrochemical engineering, pharmaceutical industry, and food analysis. In other words, it has a wide array of applications including:

  • Identification of compounds such as polymers, compounded plastics, blends, fillers, paints, rubbers, coatings, resins, adhesives, epoxies, lubricants, fuels, oil coatings, and fabrics
  • Quality control of incoming and outgoing materials
  • Identification of contaminants based on microanalysis of materials
  • Analysing thin films and coatings on the surfaces
  • Identification of oxidation, decomposition, or uncured monomers in failure analysis investigations

FTIR Advantages:

  • Fast and easy analytical technique (providing answers within seconds)
  • Minimal or no sample preparation, no consumables
  • Suitable for a small amount of sample (for example one drop of liquids)
  • Excellent sample-to-sample reproducibility
  • Minimal operator-induced variations

FTIR limitations:

  • Not suitable for elements, simple ionic compounds, and purely ionic acids in water
  • Limit of detection ~0.1 wt% for routine analysis

 

 

Spark or arc atomic emission spectroscopy is used for the analysis of metallic elements in solid samples.
For non-conductive materials, the sample is ground with graphite powder to make it conductive.
In traditional arc spectroscopy methods, a sample of the solid was commonly ground up and destroyed during analysis.
An electric arc or spark is passed through the sample, heating it to a high temperature to excite the atoms within it.
The excited analyte atoms emit light at characteristic wavelengths that can be dispersed with a monochromator and detected.
As the spark or arc conditions are typically not well controlled, the analysis for the elements in the sample is qualitative.
However, modern spark sources with controlled discharges under an argon atmosphere can be considered quantitative.
Both qualitative and quantitative spark analysis are widely used for production quality control in foundries and steel mills.
The mass spectrometer is an instrument that can measure the masses and relative concentrations of atoms and molecules and Mass Spectrometry is an analytical technique that identifies the chemical composition of a compound or sample based on the mass-to-charge ratio of charged particles. The design of a mass spectrometer has three essential modules, an ion source-which transforms the molecules in a sample into ionized fragments, a mass analyzer-which sorts the ions by their masses by applying electric, and magnetic fields and a detector-which measures the value of some indicator quantity and thus provides data for calculating the abundances each ion fragment present.

The mass spectrometer technique has both qualitative and quantitative uses,
such as-
1. Identification of unknown compounds
2. Determining the isotopic composition of elements in a compound
3. Determining the structure of a compound by observing its fragmentation
4. Quantifying the amount of a compound in a sample using carefully designed methods
5. Studying the fundamentals of gas phase in ion chemistry
6. Determining other physical, chemical or biological properties or compounds.

Mass spectrometers are sensitive detectors of isotopes based on their masses. They are used in carbon dating and other radioactive dating processes. The combination of a mass spectrometer and a gas chromatograph makes a powerful tool for the detection of trace quantities of contaminants or toxins.

Mass spectrometers are also widely used in space missions to measure the composition of plasmas. Foe example, the cassini spacecraft carries the Cassini Plasma spectrometer (CAPS), which measures the mass of ions in Saturn's magnetosphere.

Mass spectrometers are used for the analysis of residual gases in high vacuum systems.

An atom probe is an instrument that combines time-of-flight mass spectrometry and field ion microscopy to map the location of individual atoms.

LMATS  has been providing NATA accredited chemical analysis (metals & alloys) services to the industry since 2009. LMATS utilises CCD based spark atomic emission spectrometer (AES) for chemical analysis of metallic samples.  LMATS  is one of the independent engineering testing laboratories in Australia to have spectrometer analysis of metallic samples.  LMATS  is accredited to perform Laboratory based OES Spectrometry chemical analysis on Ferrous alloys including Boron,  Stainless steel including Nitrogen, Copper alloys and Aluminium alloys.  See scope of NATA Accreditation. 

LMATS  can detect Boron content up to 0.001% in your steel to comply with Australian Standards.

benchtop-oes-metal-analyzer

LMATS also offers on-site chemical analysis on in-situ parts using portable Optical Emission spectrometer; that can measure carbon content in samples. In addition to the multiple units of portable hand-held XRF spectrometers, LMATS has 3 additional site use portable Spark OES spectrometers for on-site chemical composition tests.

LMATS    comprises a team of Metallurgist, Engineers, Scientist, Engineering Technologist and Non-destructive Testing Technologist. The combination of these professionals from different speciality ensures that chemical composition along with several optional engineering tests results are interpreted by experienced metallurgists and the clients receive report, within the shortest period of time, on accurate identification of material grade for replacement of critical parts and or reverse engineering.

 

LMATS offers Chemical Analysis services from our Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and Perth laboratories. These laboratories also provide services to the clients in Tasmania, South Australia, Northern Territory and New Zealand. Please contact your nearest LMATS branch to obtain professional services for your next metallic sample analysis by spectrometry and Material grade identification.

Typical applications:

  • Production quality control in foundries and steel mills
  • Product certification by analyzing chemical composition of a product sample
  • Calculate carbon equivalent for welding purpose by analyzing chemical composition
  • Analyze chemical composition to identify material type for the purpose of part replacement, failure investigation, reverse engineering, etc

The elements commonly analysed are:-
periodic_table2
LMATS also deploy PMI-XRF-Spectroscopy and Portable Optical Emission Spectroscope (OES) technologies.

LMATS also chemical test for Carbon and Sulphur