Through a unique combination of spectral identification tools, interpretation algorithms, libraries, and scientific documentation, the latest software for Raman and FT-IR spectroscopy equipment can guide you in identifying materials and verifying assumptions—eliminating typical analytical tasks—so you get answers quickly and confidently.
Raman spectroscopy is essential to many applied scientific disciplines, including materials science of polymers and plastics. For example, Raman instruments can help you quickly identify defects even if you can’t see them. Researchers are engineering new polymers with novel properties (strength, lightweight, heat resistance, protection, and bioinertia) that enable new products or replace traditional materials so accurate analysis is key to successful products.
FTIR spectroscopy is used to quickly and definitively identify compounds such as compounded plastics, blends, fillers, paints, rubbers, coatings, resins, and adhesives. It can be applied across all phases of the product lifecycle including design, manufacture, and failure analysis. This makes it a useful tool for scientists and engineers involved in product development, quality control, and problem solving. Key areas where infrared analysis adds value include: material identification and verification, copolymer and blend assessment, additive identification and quantification. contaminant identification—bulk and surface, and molecular degradation assessment. [You can learn about Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) in the FTIR Spectroscopy Academy section of our website.]
The latest software enables lab workers and scientists to easily collect, view, manipulate and analyze spectral data from the instruments. One should become familiar with the instruments, and how they can be applied to the analysis in order to be able to solve analytical challenges. One of the best ways to learn about the instruments you use is through in person or video training.
No matter which instrument you use, there should be basic training videos available at no cost to help you get the most from your instruments and software. A thorough training program should include at least these topics:
- Introduction: Know the arrangement of the various software parts.
- Understanding the ATR Experiment: Advantages and disadvantages of using the ATR sampling approach.
- Experiment Setup Interface: Overview of the experiment setup parameter window. Navigating and understanding how experiment files are created.
- Collecting a Spectrum and Adjusting the Number of Scans: The steps to produce and increase quality of a simple infrared spectrum of a sample after it has been prepared and inserted into the FTIR.
- How Settings Are Used: How settings are used in spectral resolution, final format for data collection, and background handling.
- Saving Parameters: Quick retrieval of parameters
- Examples of Advanced Experiments
- How to Analyze: Setting up a spectral library and search, advanced search techniques to identify unknowns
- Reporting: Generating analysis reports and archiving them for future reference
Your analysis instruments are some of the most important pieces of equipment in your lab and manufacturing plant. Make sure you are getting the most out of them so you can produce quality products, or find out the source of a quality problem.
Click here to view a library of no-cost FTIR Software Training Videos now.
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