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?
The FTIR analysis (Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy) is also known as Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy.
Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy – or FTIR spectroscopy (FTIR in English) – is an analytical technique. It provides the absorption spectrum of a solid, liquid or gaseous sample. Non-destructive in nature, FTIR chemical analyses measure the amount of light absorbed by a sample as a function of the wavelength emitted by an infrared beam.
Why carry out an FTIR analysis in the laboratory?
Conducting an FTIR analysis in the laboratory involves considerable challenges, particularly with regard to the management and quality control of materials.
This technique provides a rapid, non-destructive method for identifying chemical composition and detecting impurities or contamination in a variety of materials, ranging from plastics and polymers to lubricants and pharmaceutical products.
Faced with strict regulatory compliance and product quality requirements, FTIR analysis enables manufacturers to ensure that their materials meet the required specifications, thereby avoiding high costs associated with product recalls or in-service failures.
This technique facilitates product innovation and improvement by providing an in-depth understanding of molecular interactions and material properties.
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
Custom chemical analyses (particles, residual solvents, heavy metals, etc.)
FTIR analysis, a cutting-edge technical method
The FTIR analysis is an advanced technique offering rapid and precise identification of the chemical components in samples.
Indeed, FTIR can detect specific chemical bonds and thus identify substances in complex mixtures, which is relevant for analysing material purity, detecting contamination and understanding molecular interactions.
By comparing a sample’s absorption spectrum 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 enables researchers to study structure–activity relationships within complex samples.
Moreover, the ability to perform quantitative analyses adds an additional dimension to its application, making it possible to determine the concentrations of different components in a sample.
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.
In the pharmaceutical sector, FTIR analysis is widely used for the characterisation of active pharmaceutical ingredients in medicines, the detection of contaminants and the quality control of finished products. It also helps verify the homogeneity of mixtures and identify potential interactions between the components of a formulation and the container-closure system.
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.
