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IR spectroscopy based thermal analysis of polymers

Mid-infrared spectroscopy based methods for thermal characterization of polymers are proposed. In addition to previously described structural transformations [1], like melting and thermal decomposition, the proposed IR based thermal analyses (transmittance and attenuated total reflectance) can also determine glass transition temperature. This novel approach is significant since the glass transition does not generate any vibrational band changes, and is therefore completely undetectable for traditionally employed IR spectroscopy. IR spectroscopy based thermal analysis can be performed with very small amount of sample (approximately 1 mg) and with heating rates equivalent to those in DSC measurements. The methods efficiency was confirmed by measuring thermal transformations of various polymers. Identification of glass transition, as well as other physical and chemical processes, obtained in rapid and economical manner clearly demonstrates that IR spectroscopy can provide reliable and self-sufficient thermal characterization of polymers for analytical and quality control purposes.

IR spectroscopy; thermal analysis; glass transition

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