Polymer materials analysis laboratory

A polymer analysis laboratory allows you to understand the composition, structure, and properties of your materials. This helps you verify quality, identify impurities or contaminants, and ensure compliance with regulatory standards. Whether for quality control or the development of new products, FILAB's expertise helps optimize your performance and ensure the safety of your polymer materials.

The tests carried out at FILAB, a laboratory specializing in polymer analysis, may include:

• Chromatography (GC-MS, HPLC) for the identification of additives and contaminants
• Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) to analyze chemical composition
• Thermogravimetry (TGA) to measure thermal stability
• Tensile and flexural tests to evaluate mechanical properties
  These analysis make it possible to characterize your polymers and ensure they meet your technical and industrial requirements.

Polymer analysis concerns many industrial sectors, including:

• Automotive industry: to verify the strength and durability of plastic parts.
• Medical: to ensure that polymer medical devices are safe and compliant with standards.
• Packaging: to guarantee the quality and safety of food and industrial packaging.
• Aerospace: to ensure that polymer materials withstand mechanical and thermal stresses.

By providing deep chemical and structural insights, our analytical laboratory enables manufacturers to understand exactly how their materials behave. For material optimization, we perform reverse engineering (deformulation) to understand a competitor's formulation or verify supplier consistency. In the event of manufacturing defects, we conduct thorough root-cause investigations to detect chemical contamination, identify material weaknesses, and resolve non-conformities, ensuring optimal processing and end-product quality.

We utilize a comprehensive suite of advanced analytical instruments to study polymer composition and thermal behavior. Key techniques include Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) for precise structural identification. We rely on Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) to identify and quantify additives or volatile organic compounds (VOCs). For thermal characterization and phase transitions, Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) and Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA) are our primary methods

FILAB is an ISO 17025 accredited laboratory, with in-depth expertise in polymer analysis and characterization. We offer tailored services to meet the specific needs of your industry. Our state-of-the-art equipment and qualified experts enable us to deliver fast, reliable results, ensuring that your materials meet the strictest standards.

FILAB carries out comprehensive analysis to identify and characterize microplastics present in different types of samples. The techniques used, such as RAMAN micro-spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM-EDX) or even OECD tests 120 and 301, make it possible to determine the polymer composition, morphology, size and environmental behavior of plastic particles.

An organic polymer chemistry laboratory offers comprehensive analysis to identify, characterize and test your materials.

This includes analysis by FTIR spectroscopy, thermal analysis (DSC, TGA, DMA), chromatography (GPC/SEC), NMR, electron microscopy (SEM) and aging tests for your polymers. It is a laboratory dedicated to industrial companies.

Using a plastics analysis laboratory allows you to:

• determine chemical composition (additives, residual solvents, plasticizers, heavy metals…)
• identify impurities, contaminants or defects;
• characterize thermal, mechanical and surface properties;
• carry out formulation studies to optimize your plastic materials.

The criteria to consider when choosing a good laboratory:

• ISO 17025 accreditation or recognized accreditation;
• laboratory dedicated to polymer expertise and analysis;
• modern analytical equipment (GC-MS, FTIR, DSC, SEM, GPC, etc.);
• ability to carry out all steps in-house (to ensure reliability);
• responsiveness, deadlines met, support in interpreting the results.

FILAB meets these criteria: a COFRAC ISO 17025-accredited laboratory with more than 99% of its services carried out in-house.

We offer analyses tailored to your objective:

• Chemical analyses (GC-MS, HPLC, Py-GCMS, ICP, etc.) to detect additives, solvents, impurities;
• Thermal characterization (DSC, TGA, TGA, DMA…) to assess stability, transitions, and degradation;
• Surface and morphology analyses (SEM, EDX, microscopy, porosity);
• Mechanical tests (tensile, flexural);
• Extractables/leachables studies (container-content interaction);
• Deformulation (breaking down the formulation to identify the nature of its components);
• Studies of degradation, aging, or failure.

Depending on your needs, we work with you to define the most appropriate protocol.

Our experts can characterize a wide variety of polymeric materials across all industrial sectors. This includes thermoplastics (such as PE, PP, PET, PVC, and PEEK), thermosetting polymers (like epoxy or phenolic resins), elastomers (rubbers, silicones), and complex composite materials. We also analyze biopolymers, recycled plastics, and advanced technical polymers used in demanding fields like medical devices or aerospace.

ISO 17025 accreditation is the international benchmark for laboratory quality and technical competence. For industrial manufacturers, partnering with an accredited laboratory guarantees that all analytical results are highly reliable, impartial, and globally recognized. It ensures that the analytical methods are strictly validated, instruments are perfectly calibrated, and the data provided can be confidently used for regulatory compliance, legal disputes, or critical R&D decisions.

A polymer is a large molecule (macromolecule) made up of repeating structural units called monomers. It serves as the raw chemical backbone of the material. A plastic, on the other hand, is a formulated compound ready for manufacturing. It consists of a base polymer mixed with various additives b(such as plasticizers, stabilizers, fillers, or colorants) designed to achieve specific mechanical, thermal, or aesthetic properties.

Polymers are used in complex environments: heat, humidity, solvents, mechanical stress, food contact, or medical contact. 

Our polymer laboratory studies these multiple interactions to ensure the material’s reliability under real-life use conditions. Our specific services:

• Migration studies (organic fluids, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals),
• Combined UV/thermal aging with FTIR-ATR monitoring to detect oxidation,
• Permeability measurement (O₂, CO₂, H₂O) according to ASTM standards,
• Assessment of polymer/active substance compatibility (pharmaceutical packaging),

Monitoring of chemical degradation by NMR and chromatography.

The polymer laboratory FILAB carries out mechanical, thermal, and chemical tests tailored to the needs of companies in plastics processing, automotive, construction, or packaging.

Our services cover:

• the complete characterization of polymers and composites, measurement of mechanical and rheological properties,
• the durability and accelerated aging tests, the detection of additives, impurities, or contaminants.

We provide tailored technical support to help your R&D teams better understand their materials and ensure long-lasting performance.
Choosing a specialized polymer laboratory means investing in reliability and innovation.