Polymer Structure Analysis is the determination of the chemical structure, often by FTIR or NMR, in which one can define the repeat units and original monomers used to build the polymer. When the sample is a copolymer, it is often employed with the goal of determining the comonomer ratio.
Many spectroscopic methods of analysis are used to answer the question: “What is it?” Great polymer structure analysis requires that additives and fillers be removed. Also, polymer blends need to be separated into individual fractions. Then, end-groups, side-groups, co-monomer contents, and sequence distributions can be deduced. Polymer Structure Analysis is useful in identifying new material suppliers, root causes for product failures, and product formulations in patent infringement cases.
At the simplest level, a polymer identification can be made using Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) Spectroscopy with a sample as small as the period in this sentence.
When a client requires a high level of detail Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) Spectroscopy is applied in this case, typically carbon and proton NMR. Silicon, fluorine, and phosphorus NMR spectra can also be acquired.
In some cases, polymer structure analysis can be provided using X-Ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS), a particularly powerful technique for thin coatings and surface layers.
The sample considerations can vary greatly depending on the purpose for which you require polymer structure analysis. We encourage you to contact us with your needs and to discuss the testing protocol that will be suit your end goals.
We have performed polymer structural analysis for a variety of purposes. Some examples of the reasons our clients routinely need polymer structure analysis include:
Products we've tested include: