Chemical Analysis of Rubber and Plastic Materials

Polyethylene crystellites viewed using polarised light microscopy

ipolytech use a diverse range of analytical techniques to characterise polymeric materials and their additive systems. The main services and techniques employed are described below. Please contact us to discuss specific polymer analysis requirements:

Polymer Identification

Using combined techniques our labs can identify the generic material type used in rubber and plastic components and identify and quantify their plasticisers and major inorganic fillers/reinforcements.

Fourier Transform -Infrared Spectroscopy

Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR) is a popular tool for identifying and characterising polymer materials and their additives. Independent Polymer Technology use both macro and micro spectrometers to aid with identification of polymers, fillers and contaminants.

Thermal Analysis 

Thermal Analysis encompass a number of techniques used to characterise the changes in a polymer material as a function of temperature. At ipolytech we have a full suite of thermal analysis equipment including Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA), Thermo-mechanical Analysis (TMA) and Dynamic Mechanical Analysis (DMA/DMTA).