FTIR is Fourier Transform InfraRed. FTIR spectrophotometry. FTIR or IR and FTIR Microscopy are ideal for identification and quantification of organic species even at low levels.  These include polymers (plastics), paints, binders, adhesives and unknown organic compounds, stains and solvents, even when only tiny amounts of sample are available.  Solvent extractive work allows contaminant and delamination investigations coupled with surface analysis techniques.

XRF is a sensitive quantitative bulk inorganic analytical technique for solids and liquids with a high sample throughput.  XRF can be used for unknown materials or powders, raw materials, glasses, building materials, paint filler and pigments, contaminants etc..

AAS is used for quantitative elemental and trace elemental analysis after dissolving the material. It is frequently used for environmental contamination, lead in paint, assay of metallic alloys, trace additives and some non-metals after wet chemical preparation.

ICP-MS allows for the trace detection and quantification of elements with atomic mass ranges 7 to 250 covering Lithium to Uranium in the periodic table.

GC-MS is suited for identification of organic molecular species of volatile or semi-volatile compounds. It can be used for single compounds, complex mixtures, identifying contaminants or evaluation of polymers and rubbers. 

Pyrolysis GC-MS breaks large complex molecules into smaller more analytically useful fragments suitable for identification of rubbers, plastics, organic compounds, deformulation and failure investigation.  Volatile and mobile species or residues can be analysed by pyrolyser thermal desorption.

Gas Chromatography GC is used for chemical deformulation, solvent concentration measurements, low level organic and contamination analysis as well as waste solvent and Health and Safety monitoring of organic species.

HPLC is used for analysis of organic chemicals and can identify and quantify individual compounds in a mixture.  Applications include quantitative determination of amounts of organic chemicals in liquids or chemical additive extractions from coatings, plastics and rubbers.

Ion chromatography IC is a separation technique used to analyse aqueous solutions for anionic and cationic species and weak organic acids WOA. Anions include Fluoride, Chloride, Bromide, Nitrate, Nitrite, Phosphate, Sulphate, Chlorite, Chlorate, Bromate and Acetate. Cations include Lithium Sodium, Potassium, Magnesium, Calcium and Ammonium

The Potentiostat measures the electrochemical characteristics of a metal and aqueous system.  It is used to determine the corrosion rate of material plus its passivity and pitting behaviour.

UV-Visible Spectrophotometry is suitable for trace organic analysis, colorimetric and specular reflection measurements. It is often coupled with a diverse range of wet chemical preparation techniques.

By ramping temperature and measuring weight TGA monitors chemical and material transformations as compounds change phase, degrade or form at different temperatures. The profiles obtained can yield useful information about the sample in different gas environments.

DSC measures energy given out or absorbed when materials change phase or state, through temperature cycles between -50 and +600degC in inert and gas oxidising atmospheres.

With highly knowledgeable staff the in many areas LPD Lab Services General Laboratory and Wet Chemical Techniques page covers not only standalone techniques in traditional chemical analysis but also techniques which are essential if accurate results are to be obtained in many of the other areas covered by our services.

NIR is used for a range of organic materials characterisation including to generation of information about functional groups such as hydroxyl, ethyl or amide in a molecule for plastics, raw materials and pharmaceuticals.

NMR is used for organic chemical characterisation of small molecules, macromolecules and product impurities for pharmaceutical, biopharmaceutical and organic molecules.

Deformulation of chemical products to determine their composition, how they are manufactured and substitute or improve recipes to stimulate or improve the products performance.

Extractables and Leachables analysis details how various techniques can be applied to raw materials or devices to determine the potential chemical extractables that may end up in a finished product. Knowledge of potential extractables from raw materials, products and processes can be essential to improving quality, assessing health risks and problem solving.

Product and component materials analysis achieved by combining chemical, materials science, failure analysis, reverse engineering and industrial process experience coupled with materials analysis techniques.