APPLICATIONS OF FT-RAMAN AND FT-IR MICROSPECTROSCOPY IN THE NEAR-INFRARED TO POLYMER ANALYSIS

FT-IR microspectroscopy in the near infrared of polymers yields select ive structural and conformational information as well as data on cryst allinity changes and inter/intra molecular interactions and can be obt ained on microscopic samples. The recent developments in FT-Raman micr ospectroscopy allow small areas to be analysed without interfering wit h their surroundings. FT-Raman microspectroscopy, which is non-destruc tive, is thus well adapted to both the analysis of very small samples and the analysis of heterogeneous media. A few new examples of applica tions of these two techniques in the polymer field will be presented a nd their advantages or drawbacks will be discussed.