Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR Analysis)

FTIR Analysis is used to analyze organic materials. Bulk and small particle materials can be analyzed. FTIR
microscopy allows for the identification of particle as small as 10 m. Determination of unknown materials is
facilitated by spectral matching to a library of over 250,000 reference spectra.




Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR)
Infrared spectroscopy is the study of interactions between matter and electromagnetic radiation. Atoms
in molecules and crystals continuously vibrate with natural frequencies in the range of 1013 to 1014
cycles per second, which is the frequency of infrared radiation. Vibrations which are accompanied by a
change in dipole moment cause absorption of infrared radiation. Several vibration modes may occur for
a particular atomic group, each at a particular frequency which is normally independent of the other
modes. If the amount of radiation absorbed by a substance is plotted against the incident wavelength, the
resulting graph reflects the presence of specific chemical bonds and can therefore be used for structural
identification. Whereas spectra associated with atoms are caused by electrons moving from one
electronic energy level to another, inter-atomic spectra are usually characterized by either bond
stretching or bending vibration modes. In addition, to these fundamental absorption bands, there are
multiples of the fundamental frequencies (overtones) and frequencies which are the sum and difference
of two or more fundamental frequencies, called combination lines. Wavelength is conventionally
expressed in microns () and frequency in wavenumber the number of cycles per centimeter, with
units of cm-1.
Infrared spectroscopy is probably the most powerful single technique available to qualitatively identify

organic materials and to determine molecular structure. Mass spectrometry gives the molecular weight
and formula, and nuclear magnetic resonance the number and type of protons, but only infrared
indicates in a direct manner the presence of key functional groups. A match between the infrared spectra
of an unknown sample and a reference sample is a simple, and almost positive, method of identification.
Currently, over 130,000 reference spectra are available, most of which are available in indexed form.
Spectroscopic theory will be explained in terms of very simple molecules, and then extensions will be
briefly indicated to use with construction composites.
from: Composite Construction Materials Handbook, Nicholls, R. Prentice-Hall, Inc., Englewood Cliffs,
NJ, 1976, pp. 528
FTIR Spectrum Analysis: Currently we match with a library of ~ 250,000 spectra.