Infrared microspectroscopy sample preparation

Fourier transform infrared microspectroscopy is applied for the characterisation of a coated interface and a polymer blend. The coated sample investigated is prepared by coating a urethane paint on an ethylene-ethyl acrylate copolymer whose ethyl-ester group is partially hydrolysed (EAA/EEA). It is demonstrated that a mixed phase is formed along the coated interface between the paint and the EAA/EEA. Interaction between molecules of the urethane paint and the EAA/EEA is observed. For a polymer blend prepared by mixing PP and polycarbonate. 

Infrared microspectroscopy has been applied to the study of macerals (organic fractions) from a wide range of coals [106,116] and oxidized coal [117]. It may be performed either in transmission or reflection [106]. In the former case, sample preparation is tedious, and transmission IR microspectroscopy is seldom used. The preparation of samples for reflection measurements is simpler for example, the technique of attenuated total reflectance (ATR) has been applied to the study of coal [106]. Indeed, if the standard ATR accessories (which have been available for many years) were not suitable for block coal samples, recently, an ATR lens, equipped with a silicon (or germanium) internal reflection element, has become available for use with IR microscopes, and the technique was successfully applied... 

Vibrational spectroscopy [infrared (IR) and Raman] is a powerful technique from which reliable information about chemical composition and stmcture of matter in the solid, liquid, or gas phase can be obtained in a nondestructive way and, in many cases, without any previous sample preparation. Moreover, using Raman or IR microscopy samples in the range of 1-20 pm can be analyzed, which, in the case of pigments, leads to the observation of individual mineral grains. These characteristics place microspectroscopy as unique tool among the different analytical tools available at the present [6-9]. 

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