Rubber Consultants' Materials Characterisation Unit has recently taken delivery of a Perkin Elmer Spectrum 100 FTIR spectrometer and a TL8000 FT-IR EGA interface with Thermogravimetric Analyser (TGA).

The FTIR can be used alone to examine a wide range of liquids and solids to identify the chemical constituents. We can identify the bulk composition of materials or surface contamination.

With the addition of the EGA interface we can also examine the decomposition products generated during the TGA experiment. TGA measures the changes in weight of a sample as it is heated through a designated heat program in inert atmosphere, air or oxygen. The weight loss of the sample during heating on the TGA can be correlated with the composition of the liberated fumes and vapours identified from their FTIR spectra.

The coupled method has several applications.

• The TGA weight ratios of rubbers and plastics, carbon black and inert materials in a formulation can be obtained with the simultaneous determination of the types of polymer present observed by FTIR.
• Studies of the thermal decomposition of materials and the simultaneous identification of any liberated vapours and gases.
• Identification and amount of volatile components in adhesives and latex based materials.

Operation of the TGA and FTIR will both be covered by our UKAS accreditation.

For enquires about the application of either of these facilities to solve materials processing problems please contact Colin Hull in Materials Characterization.