Chemical analysis: what is it?

Chemical analysis can be used to identify a chemical or its constituent parts, elucidating the source of a product’s strong odor or identifying the constituent parts of an organic contamination. Which kind of chemical tests to include and which kind of apparatus to employ depend on the kind of specimen and necessity.

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Here are some examples of chemical analysis methods and uses for them to provide some background for how chemical analyzes is especially used to detect and quantify in manufacturing and production:

GC/MS Analysis: Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry

By comparing a sample’s mass spectrum to a sizable reference library of spectra, gas chromatography/mass spectrometry may be used to qualitatively identify unknown compounds. Quantitative GC/MS analysis is another method used to ascertain the component concentrations in a sample. Materials that are in the liquid, gas, or compound off-gassed by a solid state may all have their chemical compositions examined using GC/MS.

For instance, Headspace GC/MS may be used to determine what a product is outgassing if it is emitting a strong odor.

TGA, or thermogravimetric analysis

By heating materials in a controlled environment and charting the volatilization temperatures of the sample’s constituent parts, materials analyzers may utilize TGA to identify qualitative and quantitative variations in materials, such as polymers. When a polymer contains inorganic filler, TGA aids in figuring out how much is there.

For instance, producers may better understand how their products will respond to adverse weather conditions by using this chemical analysis approach. TGA establishes a product’s maximum temperature.

DSC stands for differential scanning calorimetry.

Another kind of thermal analysis technique is DSC, which calculates the quantitative heat flow of materials moving through phase changes, such changing from a solid to a liquid. DSC records temperature readings during testing at transition points and compares the change rate to established reference materials. By examining purity and composition fluctuations, as well as the level of crystallinity or oxidation, manufacturers may utilize this information to examine their materials and products for quality control.

Example: A new supplier’s parts were breaking more frequently than they had in the past. When the new parts were compared to the components from the prior vendor using DSC, the new parts’ crystallinity was higher. The polymer was becoming more brittle and breaking more easily due to its increased crystallinity.

FTIR Analysis, or Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy

By measuring the infrared wavelengths absorbed by a sample, FTIR analysis may be used to ascertain the composition of unknown materials. Because it’s easy to do and may reveal a lot about the sample, the chemical analysis method is frequently the initial step in the materials analysis process. For FTIR analysis, even tiny samples—as low as 20 microns in diameter—can be employed.

For instance, manufacturers can identify particles, residues, films, and fibers using FTIR analysis. Additionally, FTIR may be used to detect and, in some situations, measure potentially dangerous substances and impurities on goods including toys, electronics, medical equipment, and food service supplies.

Auger

Material surfaces are analyzed using a chemical analysis technique called Auger Electron Spectroscopy (AES). Manufacturers may measure and certify microscopic materials with the use of Auger Electron Spectroscopy by obtaining a survey scan, multiplex scan, surface map, and depth profile.

As an illustration, AES is particularly useful for assessing the chemical processing of metals utilized in microelectronics and medical equipment.

Chemical analysis techniques may help producers with a wide range of concerns, from contamination problems and reverse engineering to assuring product purity and metal corrosion resistance.

All of the chemical analysis techniques mentioned above are carried out by Innovatech Labs for a wide range of businesses. If you’re experiencing problems with production, get in touch with us, and we’ll assist you in finding a solution

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