PLASTIC ANALYTICS AND POLYMER CHEMISTRY
Plastics testing is required for the qualification of polymer materials and products. Our experts acquire, quantify, evaluate and resolve quality-related questions from plastics technology using suitable test methods.
Polymer materials and products must withstand the planned exposure. We analyse thermoplastics, thermosetting plastics, elastomers, composite materials and foams for you and determine whether they have the necessary material characteristics.
While complying with various standards, we analyse the thermal decomposition behaviour and the material composition of plastic samples. We identify and quantify the type of polymer, decomposition products or residual monomers, additives and filler material. The analysis of the calorific characteristics provides information on the thermal history of a plastic sample and about the material. In this way, characteristic temperatures as well as the melting and crystallisation behaviour can be determined along with the type of polymer.
For the analysis, we combine various analysis methods:
- RAMAN and FT-IR spectroscopy
- Gas chromatography with coupled mass spectrometry (GC-MS)
- Thermogravimetry (TGA)
- Dynamic differential calorimetry (DDC)
- For gas analysis during TG pyrolysis, coupling with FT-IR and GC-MS is possible
- Karl Fischer Titration (KFT)
Do you have any questions about your plastic sample? Click "Your enquiry" to find the right experts for your issue.
Your contact person
chemical analytics
DIFFERENTIAL SCANNING CALORIMETRY (DSC)
We determine DSC characteristic values for the characterisation of the thermal characteristics of your material:
- Determination of the melting temperature
- Determination of the glass transition temperature
- Determination of enthalpy (heat of fusion, heat of crystallisation, heat of transformation and heat of reaction)
- Determination of the crystallinity
- Determination of the specific heat capacity
The DDC characteristic values provide information about:
- Material identity and formulation components
- Modifications and additional components
- Purity/contamination
- Thermal history
- Tempering effects
- Crystallinity/degree of crystallinity
- Curing state/degree of curing
Analysis system:
- Netzsch DSC 204 F1 Phoenix
THERMOGRAVIMETRIC ANALYSIS (TGA)
Using TGA we measure the mass changes of a sample as a function of temperature or time
- Quantification of the material composition
- Polymer content
- Softener content
- Filler material content (glass fibres, carbon black, chalk, other inorganic filler materials)
- Residual mass/ash
- Analysis of the thermal decomposition behaviour
- Determination of the decomposition temperatures (start/middle/end)
- Determination of the decomposition temperatures (start/middle/end)
- For the exact identification and quantification of escaping decomposition products and volatile components, we couple TGA with FT-IR spectroscopy and GC-MS.
Analysis systems:
- Netzsch TG 209 F1 Libra
SPECTROSCOPIC ANALYSES
Using RAMAN and FT-IR spectroscopy, we characterise materials straightforwardly and quickly. Both methods provide a spectrum that characterises the specific vibration of a molecule, a "molecular fingerprint" so to speak.
We can analyse the following for you:
- Identification of plastics, fibres and very small particles (from 1 µm)
- Verification of contamination
- Quantitative determination of known substances
Analysis systems:
- Renishaw InVia Qontor RAMAN microscope with 3 lasers (457nm, 532nm und 785nm)
- Bruker Lumos FT-IR microscope with ATR, transmission and reflection mode
- Bruker Invenio S FT-IR spectroscope with ATR, transmission and reflection mode
GAS CHROMATOGRAPHY WITH MASS SPECTROMETRY
(GC-MS)
Using GC-MS analysis, we analyse plastic samples for volatile organic compounds. For this purpose, we separate the mixture of substances into the individual substances chromatographically and then identify and quantify them using the mass spectrometer (MS).
We can analyse the following for you:
- Softeners
- Vulcanising agents
- Solvents
- Flame retardants
- Oils
Analysis systems:
- Agilent GC 8890 with 5977B GC/MS
KARL FISCHER TITRATION (KFT)
We use Karl Fischer titration to determine the exact water content in plastic samples. The results of this method are independent of the type of sample as well as the presence of other volatile components and are available within a very short time.
Methods of analysis:
- Coulometric and volumetric method with oven technology.
- Determination from 0.001% to 100%
Analysis systems:
- Metrohm 852 Titrando
- Metrohm 874 Oven Sample Processor