Micro-fourier transform infrared spectroscope with temperature controlled attenuated total reflectance

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Attenuated Total Reflectance (ATR) micro-Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR) Spectroscopy overcomes many of the limitations of FT-IR Spectroscopy and is very suitable for the characterization of materials that are either too thick or too strong absorbing to be analyzed by transmission spectroscopy.  For bulk materials or thick films, no sample preparation is required making this method ideal for the analysis of resins that are used in dentistry and in the petroleum industry. Compared to conventional transmission IR spectroscopy, ATR FT-IR spectroscopy offers: Faster sampling, improved sample-sample reproducibility, no sample preparation is needed, consequently less chance of introducing artifacts, and it is ideal for studying polymerization kinetics. The effect of temperature on the polymerization kinetics can also be studied if the ATR attachment can be temperature controlled. We are developing a durable plastic liner for the petroleum industry and studying the polymerization of dental resins. It is of paramount importance to determine the material conversion in real time as polymeric materials go from the uncured to final cured stages. Using micro-hardness testing we have already shown that significant differences in resin polymerization exist across the surface of dental restorations when irradiated by different dental curing lights. This joint project application from the School of Biomedical Engineering, Faculties of Dentistry and Civil and Resource Engineering will be used to provide more information concerning polymerization kinetics than can be obtained from hardness testing or conventional FT-IR spectroscopy. The equipment will also be used to develop novel polymeric materials and resins that have natural origin for use in dentistry, and in the petroleum industry for both formation consolidation and oilfield tools. It is of paramount importance to both projects to track the material conversion during polymerization of these materials from uncured to final cured stages under controlled temperature conditions. The proposed version of this equipment is uniquely suitable for this research.