Analysis of Polymer Materials with TG-FTIR Coupling
Dr. Ralf Kellner Festo AG & Co., ET-TD, Ruiter Str. 82, 73734 Esslingen a. N.
TG-FTIR coupling has shortly established at Festo as a useful analytical method. In a nifty way the advantages of both techniques, TG and FTIR spectroscopy, are combined. Results are supplied which cannot be received by FTIR spectroscopy or thermogravimetry alone. Informations about the composition of the investigated sample, the thermal stability and the detection of contaminations are of special interest.
By thermogravimetry mass change of the material subject to temperature and/or time is detected. Thus important informations on a polymer system can be yielded, such as the volatile content, the onset of thermal decomposition, carbon black content or inorganic filler content. Provision for changing the test atmosphere by gas switching enables polymer decomposition to be studied under inert or oxidizing conditions. Therefore direct insights into the composition of the polymer are gained. Recipe modifications by vendors are as easy to detect as damages of the material caused by external influences.
FTIR spectroscopy today is a method that is routinely used in analytical laboratories for the analysis of solid, liquid or gaseous compounds. Coupled with TG the gaseous emissions of polymer materials are transported to the FTIR gas cell for detection by a constant stream of a carrier gas.
At Festo TG-FTIR coupling primarily is used in polymer analytics for failure analysis and quality control of plastics and elastomers. By means of some selected examples the potential of the method will be demonstrated.
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