Polymer characterization by optical spectrometry

The literature on the application of vibrational spectrometry to polymers is extremely extensive. Infrared spectrometry has become a routine analytical technique in many industrial laboratories. In fact, its potential applications have greatly expanded since the arrival on the market of Fourier transform spectrophotometers. Today's instruments are relatively inexpensive and increasingly easy to use.

In many cases, Raman spectrometry is a high-performance qualitative or quantitative analysis technique that complements infrared spectrometry.

UV-visible absorption spectrometry is widely used in organic analysis. It's a relatively simple technique that enables efficient analysis of many polymer additives, and has a wide range of applications for colorimetrists.