Fourier-Transform Infrared Photoacoustic Spectroscopy of Synthetic Polymers

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Although not yet widely used in analytical laboratories, the tremendous development of low-cost FTIR spectrometers should allow photoacoustic spectroscopy to become a commonly used technique for polymer analysis. The ability to determine depth profiles in a broader range than ATR makes FTIR-PAS a particularly attractive method to follow the effect of chemical treatments or the penetration of coatings in polymeric materials. The possibility to obtain a spectrum from as-received samples is also of great interest to the analytical chemist. The only limitation of this technique is the need to use a great number of scans to enhance the signal-to-noise ration. However, continued improvements in PA cell design should increase the overall sensitivity, leading to shorter data-collection times.