3. UV-visible absorption spectrometry

Please refer to the article Ultraviolet and Visible Absorption Spectrometry in the Analyse et caractérisation des Techniques de l'Ingénieur.

UV-visible absorption spectrometry is much more sensitive than infrared spectrometry, yet it is not used as a routine method for polymer identification. This is because, unlike infrared spectra, UV-visible spectra of polymers generally do not display absorption bands that are sufficiently characteristic to allow sample identification.

The main applications of UV-visible spectrometry in the field of polymers relate more specifically to the analysis of additives, colorants and pigments, and to the analysis of polymer ageing, either qualitatively (identification of chromophores) or purely quantitatively (measurement of "yellowing").

In current practice, we operate in the ultraviolet...