FTIR / IRTF Analysis in the Laboratory
FILAB puts its expertise in FTIR analysis (or IRTF) at your disposal, a chemical analysis technique used to identify the molecular structure of many materials, particularly in pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, plastics processing, automotive, and medical devices.
Your needs: carry out IRTF analysis / FTIR analysis to characterize a material through comprehensive expertise in infrared spectroscopy
What is an FTIR analysis?
L’analyse FTIR (Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy) est aussi connue sous le nom de Spectroscopie Infrarouge à transformée de Fourier.
La Spectroscopie Infrarouge à transformée de Fourier – ou Spectroscopie IRTF (FTIR en anglais) – est une technique d’analyse. Elle permet d’obtenir le spectre d’absorption d’un échantillon solide, liquide ou gazeux. D’un caractère non destructeur, les analyses chimiques par IRTF (FTIR) mesurent la quantité de lumière absorbée par un échantillon. Et ce en fonction de la longueur d’ondes émises par un faisceau infrarouge.
Why carry out an FTIR analysis in the laboratory?
Réaliser une analyse FTIR en laboratoire présente des enjeux considérables, notamment en ce qui concerne la gestion et le contrôle de la qualité des matériaux.
Cette technique offre une méthode rapide et non destructive pour identifier la composition chimique et détecter les impuretés ou les contaminations dans une variété de matériaux, allant des plastiques et polymères, aux lubrifiants et produits pharmaceutiques.
Face aux exigences strictes en matière de conformité réglementaire et de qualité produit, l'analyse FTIR permet aux industriels d'assurer que leurs matériaux respectent les spécifications requises, évitant ainsi des coûts élevés liés aux rappels de produits ou aux défaillances en service.
Cette technique facilite l'innovation et l'amélioration des produits en permettant une compréhension approfondie des interactions moléculaires et des propriétés des matériaux.
Our solutions: provide the specific IRTF / FTIR analysis techniques suited to your needs and determine the surface chemical composition of your sample
Our IRTF analysis services
- Polymers and Plastics: Precise identification of resin families (PE, PP, PVC, PA, PET, etc.) to validate the compliance of your raw materials.
- Elastomers and Rubber: Distinguishing between different types of rubber and verifying the formulation.
- Bonding Products: Analysis of coatings, glues and adhesives to check their chemical nature or degree of cross-linking.
- Failure Analysis: Diagnosis of breakage or loss of properties (highlighting oxidation, thermal degradation or contamination).
- Particle inspection: Identification of contaminants, black spots or deposits via Micro-FTIR (localized analysis over a few microns).
- Reverse engineering: Deformulation studies to determine the chemical composition of complex or competing products.
Going Further
Support in choosing a materialto control the lifespan of a product or installation
Analyses chimiques à façon (particule, solvants résiduels, métaux lourds…)
FTIR analysis, a cutting-edge technical method
L'analyse FTIR est une technique avancée offrant une identification rapide et précise des composants chimiques des échantillons.
En effet, la technique IRTF peut détecter des liaisons chimiques spécifiques et donc identifier des substances dans des mélanges complexes, ce qui est pertinent pour analyser la pureté des matériaux, détecter des contaminations et comprendre des interactions moléculaires.
En comparant le spectre d’absorption d’un échantillon avec celui d’un composé connu ou d’une bibliothèque de référence, il est possible d’identifier des composés inconnus, même lorsqu’ils sont présents à de très faibles concentrations. La spectroscopie FTIR fournit des informations encore plus détaillées que la spectroscopie infrarouge traditionnelle et permet aux chercheurs d’étudier les relations structure-activité au sein d’échantillons complexes.
De plus, la capacité de réaliser des analyses quantitatives ajoute une dimension supplémentaire à son application, rendant possible la détermination des concentrations de différents composants dans un échantillon.
Advantages of FTIR analysis: speed and accuracy
Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy has established itself as the benchmark tool for rapid chemical identification. Its main strengths lie in:
- Extreme versatility: the ability to analyze samples in solid, liquid or gaseous form.
- Non-destructive characterization: thanks to ATR (Attenuated Total Reflectance) technology, the sample is analyzed directly without complex preparation, preserving its integrity.
- Selectivity: a unique molecular signature (fingerprint) that makes it possible to distinguish between very similar polymers or organic compounds.
A dual analysis capability: macroscopic and microscopic
Thanks to state-of-the-art instrumentation, FILAB offers you two complementary approaches:
Our FTIR instruments enable qualitative and semi-quantitative characterization of solid, liquid, or gaseous samples. This technique is used in particular to:
- Determine the nature of a polymer, a coating or an additive;
- Identify deposits, residues or contamination on a product or packaging;
- Study the evolution of a material over time (oxidation, migration, aging, etc.);
- Compare formulations, perform degradation profiles, or carry out non-conformity analyses.
We also couple FTIR with other analytical techniques such as TGA (thermogravimetric analysis), GC, or LC, to obtain more comprehensive results (TGA-FTIR, GC-FTIR, LC-FTIR, MS-FTIR).
In our FTIR microscopy laboratory, we use the LUMOS II microscope (Bruker), equipped with an FPA detector that can acquire up to 900 spectra in just a few seconds. This technology is essential for:
- Locating and identifying very small particles or contaminants (down to 5 µm);
- Performing chemical mapping, profile lines and targeted analyses on complex areas;
- Diagnosing surface defects, impurities, or alterations invisible to the naked eye.
The complementarity of FTIR: a 360° view of your materials
To combine the identification of organic functional groups (FTIR) with the elemental analysis of mineral fillers or metals (SEM).
Ideal for understanding the decomposition of a material and identifying the nature of the gases emitted during combustion.
To separate complex mixtures and identify additives or traces of residual solvents.
Did you know? Micro-FTIR makes it possible to target areas in the 10 to 20 micron range, making it possible to analyze defects invisible to the naked eye on technical parts.
Analytical objectives: from identification to control
FTIR analysis addresses three strategic challenges for manufacturers:
Industrial applications of FTIR technology
In chemistry, this technique plays a crucial role in identifying unknown chemical compounds, quality control of raw materials and finished products, as well as in monitoring chemical reactions to optimize production processes.
Dans le secteur pharmaceutique, l'analyse FTIR est largement utilisée pour la caractérisation des principes actifs des médicaments, la détection de contaminants et la qualité des produits finis. Elle aide également à vérifier l'homogénéité des mélanges et à identifier les interactions potentielles entre les composants d'une formulation et le contenant-contenu.
For the polymers and plastics industry, FTIR is used to identify polymer types and detect the presence of additives, plasticizers, or other components.
Validation of particulate cleanliness.
Compliance control of fluids and composites.
Identification of raw materials according to the pharmacopoeia.
Need an FTIR analysis or FTIR microscopy expertise?
Contact our team of experts to discuss your needs or get a personalized quote. FILAB supports you in all your projects involving chemical analysis, contamination investigations or non-conformity resolution thanks to the power of infrared spectroscopy.
FAQ
Infrared spectroscopy (IR) and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR or IRTF spectroscopy) are two analytical techniques used to identify the structure of a molecule by analyzing its infrared radiation spectrum. The difference between these two techniques is that in conventional IR analysis, the sample's absorption bands are measured directly, whereas in FTIR spectroscopy, an interferometer is used to measure the frequencies at which the sample absorbs energy. This allows FTIR analysis to provide more detailed information on composition and molecular structure than traditional infrared spectroscopy. In addition, FTIR analysis can be used on samples with a lower molecular concentration than conventional infrared spectroscopy.
The term "Fourier transform" refers to a mathematical method used to transform the raw signal obtained into an infrared spectrum with peaks corresponding to different absorption frequencies. This makes it possible to identify the chemical components of a sample by comparing the measured absorption frequencies with those of known substances.
Identifying organic functional groups by IRTF / FTIR analysis provides a precise understanding of the chemical structure of compounds. This technique is based on the fact that each functional group exhibits characteristic vibrations at certain infrared absorption frequencies, thus providing a unique "fingerprint" for each type of molecule.
Identifying these functional groups makes it possible to determine the chemical nature of substances, predict their physical and chemical properties, and understand their behavior in reactions.
FTIR analysis can face sensitivity challenges, such as when analyzing trace amounts of compounds like environmental pollutants. In addition, certain materials, such as weakly absorbing gases or reflective metal surfaces, can challenge FTIR accuracy.
Moreover, although FTIR is an excellent technical means of identifying the types of bonds and functional groups present, it does not provide direct information on the complete molecular structure, such as proteins, or for large molecules.
To overcome the limitations of FTIR analysis, various combinations with other techniques offer advanced solutions. Coupling FTIR with chromatography, either gas chromatography (GC-FTIR) for volatile compounds or liquid chromatography (LC-FTIR) for non-volatile compounds, makes it possible to separate and accurately identify the components of a complex mixture. FTIR microscopy targets localized analysis at the microscopic scale, while coupling with thermogravimetric analysis (TGA-FTIR) reveals the chemical composition and thermal stability of materials. Finally, combining it with mass spectrometry (MS-FTIR) enhances the identification and structural characterization of complex organic compounds, thus providing a comprehensive set of tools for more detailed and accurate analysis.
Infrared spectroscopy is a powerful tool for determining the exact structure of organic molecules in a wide range of applications. It can be used to identify unknown compounds, quantify mixtures, detect contaminants, determine reaction mechanisms, and monitor reactions in real time. Infrared spectroscopy is commonly used in fields such as pharmaceuticals, food science, petrochemicals, and environmental testing. By comparing the absorption spectrum of a sample with that of a known compound or a reference library, it is possible to identify unknown compounds, even when they are present at very low concentrations. FTIR spectroscopy provides even more detailed information than traditional infrared spectroscopy and allows researchers to study structure-activity relationships within complex samples.
FTIR analysis is ideal for organic materials (polymers, coatings, oils), but it is not very effective on pure metals, opaque or highly hydrated samples, or complex, unseparated mixtures. Some fluorescent compounds can also interfere with the analysis. Complementary techniques are then recommended.
Conventional FTIR analyzes samples as a whole, whereas µ-FTIR makes it possible to identify specific particles or areas at the microscopic scale (down to 5 µm), particularly in cases of contamination or heterogeneity.
Only certain inorganic species present a usable FTIR spectrum, such as silicates, carbonates, nitrates or sulfates. Others, such as metal oxides (e.g. titanium, alumina), cannot be detected because they do not absorb in the infrared range.
Water strongly absorbs infrared light, which can mask the sample's characteristic signals. FTIR analysis on aqueous liquids, suspensions or wet materials can therefore be disrupted.
The technique is not very surface-sensitive (limit of around 100 nm), cannot detect simple ions (Na⁺, Cl⁻), or metals that reflect IR. It also requires standards for quantification and a compatible substrate ( glass is unsuitable, as it absorbs IR). Analyzing complex mixtures may require separation steps or complementary techniques.
