Competitor analysis techniques

DOSY is a technique that may prove successful in the determination of additives in mixtures [279]. Using different field gradients it is possible to distinguish components in a mixture on the basis of their diffusion coefficients. Morris and Johnson [271] have developed diffusion-ordered 2D NMR experiments for the analysis of mixtures. PFG-NMR can thus be used to identify those components in a mixture that have similar (or overlapping) chemical shifts but different diffusional properties. Multivariate curve resolution (MCR) analysis of DOSY data allows generation of pure spectra of the individual components for identification. The pure spin-echo diffusion decays that are obtained for the individual components may be used to determine the diffusion coefficient/distribution [281]. Mixtures of molecules of very similar sizes can readily be analysed by DOSY. Diffusion-ordered spectroscopy [273,282], which does not require prior separation, is a viable competitor for techniques such as HPLC-NMR that are based on chemical separation. 

Laser desorption methods (such as LD-ITMS) are indicated as cost-saving real-time techniques for the near future. In a single laser shot, the LDI technique coupled with Fourier-transform mass spectrometry (FTMS) can provide detailed chemical information on the polymeric molecular structure, and is a tool for direct determination of additives and contaminants in polymers. This offers new analytical capabilities to solve problems in research, development, engineering, production, technical support, competitor product analysis, and defect analysis. Laser desorption techniques are limited to surface analysis and do not allow quantitation, but exhibit superior analyte selectivity. 

The first volume concentrates on separation techniques. H. Pasch summarizes the recent successes of multi-dimensional chromatography in the characterization of copolymers. Both, chain length distribution and the compositional heterogeneity of copolymers are accessible. Capillary electrophoresis is widely and successfully utilized for the characterization of biopolymers, particular of DNA. It is only recently that the technique has been applied to the characterization of water soluble synthetic macromolecules. This contribution of Grosche and Engelhardt focuses on the analysis of polyelectrolytes by capillary electophore-sis. The last contribution of the first volume by Coelfen and Antonietti summarizes the achievements and pitfalls of field flow fractionation techniques. The major drawbacks in the instrumentation have been overcome in recentyears and the triple F techniques are currently advancing to a powerful competitor to size exclusion chromatography. 

Conjoint Analysis is a simplified experimental technique for determining the best combination of attributes to include in a product or service design—Abased on the tradeoffs customers are willing to make. For example, you could have a new laptop computer that gives more benefits and costs less than what competitors offer. But before you release it you might want to find out what customers prefer in terms of the product s attributes, and what price they are willing to pay for them. 

Similarly, our analysis of the variable-yield model in Chapter 8 is limited to two competing populations because we rely on the techniques of monotone dynamical systems theory. One would expect the main result of Chapter 8 to remain valid regardless of the number of competitors, just as it did for the simpler constant-yield model treated in Chapters 1 and 2. Perhaps the LaSalle corollary of Chapter 2 can be used to carry out such an extension, using arguments similar to those used in [AM] (described in Chapter 2). As noted in [NG], a structured model in which... 

Analytical pyrolysis is used frequently in practice for qualitative identification and for obtaining quantitative or semiquantitative information on samples containing polymers, either synthetic or natural. However, most of this work remains unreported in peer reviewed literature but is rather common in industrial laboratories. Since the objects made from plastic or elastomers are typically insoluble or not easily analyzed by other techniques, analytical pyrolysis is very successful in this type of analysis [11]. The very small amount of material necessary for pyrolysis also allows in many cases performance of the analysis without the destruction of the object to be investigated. Qualitative and quantitative work includes applications for the identification of unknown samples and also for quality control purposes, evaluation of starting materials, evaluation of finished products, reverse engineering and competitor s product analysis, etc. [1]. Among other applications, Py-GC/MS can be used to quantitatively differentiate between natural and synthetic organic materials [12]. 

The second element of demand, competitor s activities, has already been touched upon in market share analysis here the usefulness of correlation techniques has limited application. 

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