Sealants have a wide range of commercial and industrial applications often requiring highly specialized formulations for the different environments they may be used in, such as extreme temperature environments. FTIR (Fourier-Transform Infrared) spectroscopy utilizing the Attenuated Total Reflectance (ATR) sampling technique offers a rapid and simple technique for the chemical characterization of the sealant and the ability to monitor the curing process.
This application note describes how a PerkinElmer Spectrum Two+™ FTIR equipped with a UATR (Universal Attenuated Total Reflectance) accessory along with a Specac Arrow™ top plate is used to characterize three sealants, each with a different chemical base.