PROCESS EQUIPMENT UPDATE
RAMAN REVOLUTION
Raman spectroscopy: the new standard in compositional analysis of polymers
M
any large chemical facilities have an internal testing laboratory to manage the analysis of polymers for use in a wide
variety of materials and products. If this option is not available, operators can send samples to external, third-party labs for on-demand analysis. Te analytical data is critical for operators to make informed decisions regarding product quality, infrastructure protection, regulatory compliance and other key factors that ultimately impact profitability. Chemours is a chemistry company
that produces materials that help firms solve challenging problems related to polymers, pigments and cooling fluids.
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Te company continually develops new polymer materials and new applications for existing materials. Tis requires measuring properties of the materials to ensure proper function. Consequently, during production the company measures its process to maintain tight control, according to Troy Francisco, technology manager, Chemours Discovery Hub, and team leader for the leveraged analytical group and the process analysis group. “We provide measurements and analysis for R&D, to evaluate our processing, and to ensure we are being good stewards of our environment – and effectively using Raman spectroscopy is essential in these efforts,” says Francisco.
WHAT IS RAMAN SPECTROSCOPY? Raman spectroscopy is a laser-based optical analysis technique used to measure composition through the vibrational properties of molecules. Samples are collected using a 785nm excitation laser and a contact probe that produces a unique spectral fingerprint that identifies the chemical composition and molecular structure. Te distribution of the spectral peaks describes the molecule’s composition, while the signal intensity correlates linearly with concentration. Since its discovery in the 1920s, Raman
spectroscopy has revolutionised process analysis with its nondestructive mode of
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