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Infrared Spectroscopy as a Chemical Fingerprinting ToolInfrared (IR) spectroscopy is a powerful analytical tool in the chemical fingerprinting of materials. The technique is rapid, reproducible and usually non-invasive. With the appropriate accessories, the technique can be used to examine samples in either a solid, liquid or gas phase. Solid samples of varying sizes and shapes may be used, and with the addition of microscopic IR (microspectroscopy) capabilities, minute materials such as single fibers and threads may be examined. With the addition of appropriate software, microspectroscopy can be used for automated discrete point or compositional surface area mapping, with the latter providing a means to record changes in the chemical composition of a material surface over a defined area. Both aqueous and non-aqueous free-flowing solutions can be analyzed using appropriate IR techniques, as can viscous liquids such as heavy oils and greases. Due to the ability to characterize gaseous samples, IR spectroscopy can also be coupled with thermal processes such as thermogravimetric (TG) analyses to provide both thermal and chemical data in a single run. In this configuration, solids (or liquids) heated in a TG analyzer undergo decomposition, with the evolving gases directed into the IR spectrometer. Thus, information is provided on the thermal properties of a material and the order in which its chemical constituents are broken down during incremental heating. Specific examples of these varied applications will be cited, with data interpretation and method limitations further discussed.
Document ID
20030001974
Acquisition Source
Marshall Space Flight Center
Document Type
Preprint (Draft being sent to journal)
Authors
Huff, Tim
(NASA Marshall Space Flight Center Huntsville, AL United States)
Munafo, Paul M.
Date Acquired
August 21, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 2002
Subject Category
Inorganic, Organic And Physical Chemistry
Meeting Information
Meeting: Aerospace, Materials, Processes, adn Enviornmental Technology (AMPET)
Location: Huntsville, AL
Country: United States
Start Date: September 16, 2002
End Date: September 18, 2002
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.

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