Varian Excalibur Series FTIR with Microscope
FTIR is a spectroscopic technique based on the absorption of infrared photons that
excite vibrations of bonds in molecules. The collected spectra can be used as a fingerprint
to help identify and characterize samples. Some of the applications include detection
and characterization of organic materials and some inorganic additives in polymers,
determination of changes in chemical structure of organic materials, identification
of organic functional groups. The minimum sample area that can be analyzed is about
15 microns. In some cases semi-quantitative data can be obtained. The FTIR can be
run in two different modes; the bench and the microscope.
- The bench, FTS 4000 is the main part of the FTIR and is used for samples in the form of thin films, powders and liquids. Various accessories for internal ATR are also available.
- The microscope, UMA 600 is attached to the bench and is used for samples in the form of solids (non-abrasive materials) or films. The data can be collected in reflectrance and transmittance mode. A micro-ATR with Ge crystal is avaialable for sample analysis. The microscope has the capability of generating spectral data from small areas on the surface of the sample (~15 µm).
- The Bio-Rad spectral library is also available with the FTIR. This is a powerful tool which can be used for analysis and identification of unknown materials.