Introduction

The analysis of the molecular structure of fiber materials is useful in the evaluation of new materials, quality control, forensics and in criminal investigation. Fibers are made by mixing different materials and dye compounds to meet the requirements for color and texture. Infrared spectroscopy (as required by JIS L 1030) is widely used in the molecular structure analysis of fiber materials; ATR is an excellent technique because it requires only minimal sample preparation, is non-destructive and easy to use. JASCO’s FTIR accessory, the ATR PRO ONE VIEW allows the user to perform measurements whilst observing the sample contact with the prism, and provides a clear full color image. The spectrum and image are saved together in Spectra Manager™ for a comprehensive record of the analysis. In this application note, the measurement of several fiber products are demonstrated using an ATR PRO ONE VIEW.

Keywords

260-AT-0243, fiber, sample image, material analysis, ATR

Results

2.1 Fiber Image

Figure 2 is a digital image of a fiber captured using the ATR PRO ONE VIEW. A micro sample was set at the center of the prism and can be clearly observed in the 1.1 x 0.8 mm field.

The Spectrum Measurement software allows the measurement of sample dimensions and to save the IR spectrum with a captured image. This additional information is useful when collating data, including the sample image, and provides valuable information for a complete record and comprehensive reporting.

2.2 Blended Fiber Analysis

Figure 3 Images and IR spectra of a neutral colored cloth and a beige/green cloth. The peaks around 1640, 1550 cm^–1 assigned as amide I, II are observed in spectrum (A). Peaks assigned as nitrile (2300 cm^–1) and carbonyl (1720 cm^–1) are observed in addition to the amide I, II peaks. These results indicate that (A) is pure wool and (B) is a mixture of acrylic and wool.

Conclusion

As mentioned, using the ATR PRO ONE VIEW allows the sample position, chemistry, shape and color to be recorded in a single comprehensive data set. The ATR PRO ONE VIEW can be used in various fields including quality control and criminal investigation.