FTIR Microscopy System for Polymer Analysis
聚合物分析用红外显微成像系统
- SKU PSP-0003
- Polymer Spectroscopy
- CE (to be confirmed)
- ISO 9001 manufacturing (to be confirmed)
Price on request — FOB / CIF quoted per order
Prices depend on configuration, quantity and destination port.
Key specifications
| Spatial resolution | About 10–20 µm diffraction limited |
|---|---|
| Spectral range | 4000–900 cm⁻¹ (detector limited) |
| Detector | Liquid-nitrogen-cooled MCT |
| Mapping modes | Point, line and area mapping |
| Objectives | Reflective 15× and 32× |
| Sample stage travel | 75 × 50 mm typical |
Request a quote Download brochure · to be provided
By Lab Manufacturers China Technical TeamLast reviewed Standards: ASTM E1252, ASTM E168, ASTM D5576
What is the FTIR Microscopy System for Polymer Analysis?
An FTIR microscope focuses the infrared beam onto a small area of a polymer sample, allowing analysis of particles, gels, fibres, films and layer structures. It is used for contaminant identification and for mapping composition across a surface.
What is the FTIR Microscopy System for Polymer Analysis?
An FTIR microscope focuses the infrared beam onto a small area of a polymer sample, allowing analysis of particles, gels, fibres, films and layer structures. It is used for contaminant identification and for mapping composition across a surface.
Overview
An infrared microscope sits on the external port of the spectrometer and uses reflective objectives to bring the beam to a spot of roughly 10 to 100 µm, with area mapping or focal-plane array imaging available for larger regions. Samples are commonly prepared as thin microtome sections or compression-flattened films on infrared-transparent windows such as barium fluoride or zinc selenide, with transmission and reflection modes for different geometries. A liquid-nitrogen-cooled mercury cadmium telluride detector improves sensitivity and acquisition speed, which matters when hundreds of spectra are collected across a mapped area. Raman or visible imaging can be integrated for complementary information, and the technique is used to identify the composition of a single gel particle or to visualise additive distribution in a multilayer structure.
How does it work?
Molecules absorb infrared radiation at frequencies that match their vibrational modes, so a spectrum of absorbance against wavenumber acts as a fingerprint of the polymer backbone and of the additives present. Fourier-transform instruments use an interferometer and a mathematical transform to record the full spectrum quickly and at high signal-to-noise ratio. Attenuated total reflection brings the beam into a high-refractive-index crystal in contact with the sample, so surface layers of a few micrometres can be measured without preparation. Raman spectroscopy complements this by measuring inelastically scattered light from a laser, which is sensitive to non-polar bonds, and near-infrared spectroscopy records overtone and combination bands that are weak but penetrating, making it suitable for rapid screening through packaging or with fibre probes.
What are the key features?
- Spot size from about 100 µm down to 10 µm
- Transmission and reflection modes
- Focal-plane array imaging for mapping
- Liquid-nitrogen-cooled MCT detector
- Motorised sample stage with visible image overlay
- Microtome and compression film accessories
What are the technical specifications?
A typical ftir microscopy system for polymer analysis configuration offers spatial resolution of About 10–20 µm diffraction limited, spectral range of 4000–900 cm⁻¹ (detector limited), detector of Liquid-nitrogen-cooled MCT, mapping modes of Point, line and area mapping, objectives of Reflective 15× and 32× and sample stage travel of 75 × 50 mm typical. Values are indicative of the product class; the exact figures for each configuration are confirmed on the quotation and the calibration documents supplied with the instrument.
Which applications is it used for?
The FTIR Microscopy System for Polymer Analysis is used in gel and contaminant particle identification, multilayer film layer analysis, additive distribution mapping in mouldings and fibre and coating cross-section analysis. Across the wider Polymer Spectroscopy class, laboratories also deploy it for incoming identification of resin and rubber grades, contaminant and gel particle analysis and additive, filler and plasticiser detection.
Which standards and certifications apply?
Relevant standards and methods include ASTM E1252, ASTM E168, ASTM D5576, ASTM D3677, ISO 4650, ASTM E1840 and IEC 61010-1. Certification candidates for this model are CE and ISO 9001 manufacturing; each is to be confirmed for the specific configuration before shipment, and certificates are supplied only where they have been issued.
Keep the spectrometer purged or desiccated because water vapour and carbon dioxide bands appear in the mid-infrared and can mask weak peaks. Run a background scan at the same resolution and purge conditions as the sample, and verify wavenumber calibration with a polystyrene film at defined intervals. For ATR work, clean the crystal immediately after each measurement and check for scratches, because damaged surfaces distort bands. Raman systems should be calibrated against a standard such as silicon or cyclohexane, and laser power must be limited for dark or heat-sensitive polymers to avoid burning the sample.
How do I select the right FTIR Microscopy System for Polymer Analysis?
Choose infrared microscopy when the analysis target is small, when its location in a matrix must be documented, or when composition must be mapped across a surface. Confirm the spatial resolution needed against the particle size you routinely examine, and check that microtome and film preparation accessories are available, because sample preparation often decides whether a small particle can be identified at all.
How does it compare with other Polymer Spectroscopy variants?
Infrared is the default for polymer identification because spectral libraries are extensive and the method is well standardised. Add an attenuated total reflection accessory when samples are solid, opaque or dirty, since it removes pressing, grinding and solvent steps. Choose an infrared microscope when the target is a contaminant, a gel particle or a multilayer film that must be measured at a defined point or mapped across a surface. Raman is preferred for aqueous samples, for polymers that are strong infrared absorbers such as filled or black materials, and for portable field identification through transparent packaging. Near-infrared is selected for high-throughput screening and quantitative additive or moisture measurement using chemometric models.
Full specifications
| Spatial resolution | About 10–20 µm diffraction limited |
|---|---|
| Spectral range | 4000–900 cm⁻¹ (detector limited) |
| Detector | Liquid-nitrogen-cooled MCT |
| Mapping modes | Point, line and area mapping |
| Objectives | Reflective 15× and 32× |
| Sample stage travel | 75 × 50 mm typical |
| Window materials | Barium fluoride, zinc selenide, silicon |
| Section thickness | 5–20 µm recommended |
| Purge requirement | Nitrogen purge for water vapour removal |
| Power supply | 220 V, 50/60 Hz |
Indicative values for this product class. Final specifications are confirmed on the quotation and in the calibration documents supplied with the instrument.
Applications
- Gel and contaminant particle identification
- Multilayer film layer analysis
- Additive distribution mapping in mouldings
- Fibre and coating cross-section analysis
Key features
- Spot size from about 100 µm down to 10 µm
- Transmission and reflection modes
- Focal-plane array imaging for mapping
- Liquid-nitrogen-cooled MCT detector
- Motorised sample stage with visible image overlay
- Microtome and compression film accessories
Frequently asked questions about FTIR Microscopy System for Polymer Analysis
Transmission work requires a thin section, typically 5 to 20 µm, cut by microtome or prepared by pressing the particle flat on an infrared-transparent window. Reflection mode can examine an embedded and polished cross-section directly. Contaminants are often flattened between two windows, and the preparation must not introduce contamination itself.
The small measurement area reduces the energy reaching the detector, so a high-sensitivity detector is needed to keep measurement times practical. A liquid-nitrogen-cooled mercury cadmium telluride detector provides much better signal-to-noise than a room-temperature detector, which is essential for rapid area mapping.
Yes, provided the gel is larger than roughly the diffraction limit and can be isolated or measured in situ. The spectrum usually reveals whether the gel is crosslinked polymer, an unmelted particle, a foreign contaminant or an inorganic filler, which is often enough to trace the source in the process.
Infrared spectroscopy is normally the first choice because reference libraries cover the common thermoplastics and rubbers and the method is standardised. Attenuated total reflection makes measurement of a solid part straightforward. Raman is used when the sample is dark, filled, wet or must be identified through packaging, and near-infrared when many samples must be screened rapidly.
ATR needs no KBr pressing, no grinding and no solvent, so an irregular part, a pellet or a film can be measured in seconds with good contact. The beam penetrates only a few micrometres, which means surface contamination dominates the spectrum, so the surface should be representative or cleaned before measurement.
The measured spectrum is searched against a library using correlation or hit-quality algorithms that compare peak positions and relative intensities. Results are reported as a ranked list with a match score, and identification should be confirmed by checking the key diagnostic bands of the proposed polymer rather than relying on the score alone.
