Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy
(FT-IR) Analysis

Product Validation and Material Identification

Scope: Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR) is used to qualitatively and quantitatively identify the molecular components in a material. Materials have unique properties that can be identified through the absorption and transmission of infrared radiation as it is passed through the sample. The frequencies of the vibrations between the bonds of atoms in the material coincide with a spectrum. This spectrum includes absorption peaks that are unique to the material tested.

Equipment: FAI's infrared spectrometer is a Perkin Elmer Spectrum 2000 running current PE Spectrum Software. It is their highest quality research grade unit with broad ranging capabilites. We have both a DTGS (room temperature) detector and the liquid nitrogen cooled MCT-B high sensitivity detector, with interchangable KBr and quartz beam splitters.

Input: A very small sample is taken and compressed between two diamonds in an anvil cell. Infrared radiation (4000 to 400 nm) is then passed through the sample and a spectrum is collected. This spectrum is then compared to standard reference materials and other spectrums in our libraries to identify the material.

Output: FAI provides absorption/transmission spectrums of the sample and standard reference material(s).

FT-IR is an excellent analytical tool that can positively identify unknown compounds by comparing sample spectrum to an internal and external library of standards.

Our FT-IR methods prove valuable in many applications and industries. Additional advantages include high throughput, mechanical simplicity, non-destructive sampling, high sensitivity, accuracy, and reproducibility.

Related Services:

Gas Chromatography Mass Spectroscopy (GC-MS)

Energy Dispersive X-Ray Spectroscopy (EDXS)