MIRacle™ Single Reflection ATR

This application note describes the benefits of using attenuated total reflectance (ATR) in combination with FT-IR for the analysis of polymeric materials. Polymer materials have become widely utilized for many different applications ranging from food packaging and consumer products to use in medical devices and in aerospace technologies. The composition of polymer materials may be readily determined by measuring their infrared spectra using a Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectrometer and then comparing the results with a commercially available or specifically prepared spectral database.

This application note demonstrates the use of ingle-bounce attenuated total reflectance (SB-ATR) in the FTIR determination of the trans content of edible fats and oils and the analysis of alcoholic beverages. Naturally occurring double bonds in fats and oils of plant origin generally have the cis configuration. However, extensive cis ® trans isomerization may occur during industrial processing, and the levels of trans isomers in processed fats and oils can be as high as 40%. For taxation purposes, alcohol content must be declared on the labels of all alcoholic beverages, but commercially available FTIR wine analyzers require samples having high alcohol and/or sugar content to be diluted prior to analysis.

Single reflection attenuated total reflection (ATR) accessories have become a leading sampling tool for Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy due to the ease and speed of sampling by this method. Further advancement in ATR sampling comes from the optimization of the ATR crystal choice and optical features, particular diamond, which provides a unique, long lasting and chemically inert sampling medium and its use grows as users discover the benefits of this material. IR absorption by the sample can be optimized for high concentration and low concentration components, by adjusting for angle of incidence of the IR beam or the refractive index of the ATR crystal, for example. This application note characterizes the performance of single and three reflection diamond ATR crystal plates using the MIRacle™ ATR accessory.

This application note demonstrates that the high throughput of the MIRacle ATR accessory allows spectroscopy to be implemented as an important tool to evaluate formulation accuracy in reactive products.

This application note describes the measurement of spectral data using a MIRacle single reflection ATR accessory on an FTIR spectrometer. Results demonstrate that a high throughput, single reflection ATR accessory configured with the appropriate ATR crystal and high pressure clamping device is capable of providing excellent FTIR spectra of solids, liquids, polymers and many other sample types.

This video reviews the implications of single versus multiple reflection ATR sampling and investigates the appropriate configuration for powders and low-concentration component samples.

In this video, semi-rigid polyurethane samples containing varying ratios of isocyanate to hydroxyl monomers are analyzed via ATR.

Watch this video overview of PIKE Technologies automation, ATR and gas analysis products showcased at Pittcon 2014.

Watch this video to learn how the seal chamber around the press tip on the Miracle ATR is advantageous when loading samples in a protective area.

Watch this video to gain insight into PIKE Technologies MIRacle single reflection ATR’s innovative optical design and learn about its unique features and options that make sampling easier.