Chemical Analysis Techniques in Blackburn
Chemical analysis covers a wide range of techniques and an even broader range of samples, including solids, liquids and gases from raw materials to finished products. Analysis may involve a particular technique or a combination of techniques, and may be related to a specific problem to solve or to product of process research and development. At LPD Lab Services – an independent, UKAS-accredited (2766), ISO 17025 analytical laboratory based in Blackburn, East Lancashire – our team of dedicated specialist technical staff has access to many chemical analysis and materials analysis techniques and can advise how best to address customer requirements in a cost-effective and reliable way.
Some of the chemical analytical techniques available at LPD Lab Services are:
Chemical Analysis Techniques for Solids, Liquids and Gases
Whether the requirement is to establish what a material is made of, how much of a particular component is present, or how a product changes with time, the answer usually comes from combining complementary methods. Our chemical analysis capabilities span elemental and inorganic techniques for metals, alloys, glasses and raw materials; molecular and organic methods for polymers, solvents and complex mixtures; thermal studies that reveal how materials behave as temperature changes; and classical wet chemistry for the preparation and extraction work that makes every other result accurate. Samples arrive as solids, liquids or gases – from raw materials and in-process streams through to finished products – and we select the technique route, or combination of technique routes, that answers the question in the most cost-effective and reliable way.
How Our Chemical Analysis Works: From Sample to Interpreted Report
Every investigation follows the same disciplined route: the sample is received and characterised, the most appropriate analytical technique or combination of techniques is selected, the analysis is carried out in our UKAS-accredited (2766), ISO 17025 laboratory, and the results are interpreted against the practical context of the product or process involved. Our industrial scientist and engineering backgrounds and typical technical expertise mean that practical, context-oriented interpretation of the experimental data is included as a matter of course – customers receive conclusions they can act directly upon, with appropriate support at every stage.
Elemental, Molecular and Thermal Analysis Capabilities
Our chemical analysis bench covers the main families of technique, each suited to a different kind of question:
- Elemental and inorganic analysis – X-ray fluorescence (XRF) for sensitive, quantitative bulk analysis of solids and liquids; atomic absorption spectrophotometry (AAS) for quantitative elemental and trace elemental analysis after dissolving the material; ICP-MS for the trace detection and quantification of elements from lithium to uranium; and LECO combustion IR for carbon and sulphur in metals and alloys.
- Molecular and organic analysis – FTIR and FTIR microscopy for polymers, paints, binders, adhesives and unknown organic compounds; GC-MS and pyrolysis GC-MS for volatile and semi-volatile species, rubbers, plastics and deformulation; gas chromatography (GC) and HPLC for solvent concentration measurements and additive quantification; ion chromatography (IC) for anions, cations and weak organic acids in aqueous solutions; and NMR for organic chemical characterisation.
- Thermal analysis – TGA to monitor volatiles and material transformations as temperature rises, and DSC to measure energy changes, glass transition temperatures and melting points through temperature cycles in inert and oxidising atmospheres.
- Classical wet chemistry and electrochemical testing – classical analytical wet chemistry techniques, including the preparation and extraction methods essential for accurate results, plus potentiostat testing to determine corrosion rate, passivity and pitting behaviour.
Where a single technique cannot answer the question, techniques are combined – for example solvent extraction coupled with surface analysis, or FTIR with GC-MS – to give an unambiguous result.
Deformulation, Reverse Engineering and Product Analysis
Understanding what a product is made of, and how it is made, is often the first step in improving or replacing it. We deformulate chemical products to determine their composition and how they are manufactured, then help substitute or improve recipes to improve product performance. The same capabilities support product and process research and development, the characterisation of raw materials, additives and unknown compounds, and investigations where the original formulation is no longer known or documented.
Contamination and Compatibility Investigation Support
Many chemical analysis requirements start with a problem: an unidentified contaminant, a residue, a deposit, or a material that is degrading in service. Our techniques support contamination and compatibility investigations across the full chain – identifying unknown stains, solvents and deposits; measuring ionic contamination in aqueous systems; assessing the extractables and leachables that may end up in a finished product; determining corrosion rate and passivity; and establishing what is actually present in metals, alloys, glasses, building materials, coatings and pigments. Combined with our materials analysis and failure investigation capabilities, this provides a complete route from sample to root cause.
Frequently Asked Questions About Chemical Analysis
What can chemical analysis identify?
Chemical analysis establishes what a material or product is made of, and how much of each component is present. It covers organic and inorganic species in solids, liquids and gases – from polymers, paints, adhesives, solvents and unknown compounds through to trace elements in metals, alloys, glasses and raw materials – and it is used to deformulate chemical products and to identify contaminants, stains and residues.
What sample types can be tested by chemical analysis?
Solids, liquids and gases, from raw materials and in-process streams to finished products. Where the technique allows it, even tiny amounts of sample can be analysed, for example by FTIR microscopy, or by pyrolyser thermal desorption of volatile and mobile species or residues.
How do I choose the right chemical analysis technique?
You usually do not need to. We advise on the most appropriate technique, or combination of techniques, for your requirement in a cost-effective and reliable way. Every result is interpreted against the practical context of your product or process, so you can act directly upon it, with appropriate support.
Is LPD Lab Services a UKAS-accredited analytical laboratory?
Yes. LPD Lab Services is an independent, UKAS-accredited (2766), ISO 17025 analytical laboratory based in Blackburn, East Lancashire, serving clients across the UK.
Can you identify unknown materials or contaminants?
Yes. Unknown organic compounds, stains and solvents can be identified by FTIR analysis; volatile and semi-volatile contaminants by GC-MS; trace elements in materials by XRF, AAS and ICP-MS. Contamination, deformulation and compatibility investigations are routine work for our laboratory in Blackburn, East Lancashire.
Request a Quote for Chemical Analysis
If you need to know what a material, product or process is made of, please contact LPD Lab Services today to discuss your requirement in detail. LPD Lab Services is an independent, UKAS-accredited (2766), ISO 17025 analytical laboratory in Blackburn, East Lancashire, providing chemical analysis and materials analysis to clients across the UK – request a quote today.