Abstract

The identification of intractable polymers by examination of the infrared spectra of their pyrolysis products is a well-established technique. Following early work by Harms and Kruse and Wallace, numerous methods have appeared in the literature, but these are primarily concerned with macrosamples. Few methods applicable to microsamples have been published; the microtechnique described by Scism, which involved heating a minute sample in a crucible covered with a NaCl window, has the drawback that the window can crack. Humecki's technique for identifying submicrogram specimens using a capillary brush device required an infrared micro-scope. The technique described here requires little skill and no expensive accessory.

Infrared Response of Pyrolyzed Organic Films*

James F. Andrew
J. Opt. Soc. Am. 46(3) 209-214 (1956)

A Simple Method of Obtaining the Infrared Spectra of Solid Organic Samples

Bernard M. Mitzner
J. Opt. Soc. Am. 43(9) 806_1-806 (1953)

Simple process for building large homogeneous adaptable retarders made from polymeric materials

Françoise Delplancke, Harry Sendrowicz, Robert Bernaerd, and Jean Ebbeni
Appl. Opt. 34(16) 2921-2926 (1995)

Employing spectra of polycrystalline materials for the verification of optical constants obtained from corresponding low-symmetry single crystals

Thomas G. Mayerhöfer and Jürgen Popp
Appl. Opt. 46(3) 327-334 (2007)

The Reflection and Transmission of Infrared Materials: I, Spectra from 2 50 Microns

Donald E. McCarthy
Appl. Opt. 2(6) 591-595 (1963)