Introduction to FTIR FTIR Analysis measures the infrared region of the electromagnetic radiation spectrum, which has a longer wavelength and a lower frequency than visible light, and is measurable in a sample when submitted to infrared radiation (IR). The basic theory at work is that the bonds between different elements absorb light at different frequencies. […]
FTIR Spectroscopy Blog Posts
How Adhesive Label Delamination Can Be Solved with FTIR Analysis
When developing adhesive labels, there is one prevailing goal: the adhesive must stick to its subject. Adhesive labels that lose their adhesion over time, or delaminate, are failed products. Extensive product testing ensures that most of these failed label materials never make it to market. However, those that do can cause serious problems for the […]
What is Chemical Analysis?
Chemical analysis can be used to determine a chemical’s identity or the identity of its components. To give some context to how chemical analyses can be used in manufacturing and production, here are some examples of chemical analysis methods and applications for them: Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry – GC/MS Analysis Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry is used to […]
FTIR Analysis Helps Monitor HIV Patients
HIV was once considered a death sentence, but thanks to advances in modern medicine, people with HIV who receive proper medical care can live to their country’s average life expectancy. Although it’s now possible to live a full and healthy life with HIV, HIV positive people must be monitored closely to ensure that they are […]
Guess the Materials Characterization Technique Part II
When unknown contaminants appear on your products due to failures in manufacturing processes, there are techniques that can help you identify the cause of the issue. Materials analysis laboratories use materials characterization to analyze and reverse engineer unknown materials to discover their composition. In our last post, we brought up four issues and asked you […]
Materials Analysis Solves Manufacturing Mysteries
When a manufactured electrical switch unexpectedly experienced a series of shorts, quality assurance personnel noticed several abnormal particles within the switch. Because these particles were the only abnormality apparent on the product, and the QA team could not readily define where they came from, the manufacturer decided to submit the particles for materials analysis. This […]
7 Signs that it’s Time for Materials Testing
As an engineering or manufacturing lead for your business, you have enough to do without trying to troubleshoot a mysterious product failure. From staffing issues to inventory and manufacturing to fulfillment, a product failure due to contamination or unexpected out gassing in transit is the last thing you want to hear about. Luckily there materials […]
3 Ways Failure Analysis Testing Can Benefit Your Manufacturing Company
It’s happened to you. You go to your favorite restaurant for your favorite meal. But once the food comes out, something’s just not right. The fries aren’t as crispy or your burger doesn’t have the same juicy, delicious flavor it usually does. You think: “Maybe the chef is just having an off night—or maybe they […]
FTIR Analysis to Be Used for Early Cancer Detection
UK researchers using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy, or FTIR analysis, have produced an image of the cross section of a prostate at an incredibly high spatial resolution. According to an online article in Chemistry World, previously, only millimeter sized sections of tissue could be measured to a high enough degree of accuracy to produce a […]
Is the Food in Your ‘Fridge Killing You?
Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy, or FTIR analysis, may someday be used at your local grocery store. According to Ashraf Ismail, associate professor in the Canadian Department of Food Science and Agricultural Chemistry, in the future, FTIR analysis could be used in supermarkets to identify bacteria in food before it kills you! Ismail should know; he […]
