Page 2 - Shimadzu Plastic Analyzer

Supporting Contaminant Analysis and

Deteriorated Microplastics Analysis

When analyzing plastics, libraries are used to qualify
their material properties. However, infrared spectra of
plastics that have been denatured (have deteriorated)
due to heat or UV rays differ in shape from standard
spectra, and qualifying them can sometimes be difficult.
To address this, the Plastic Analyzer includes a
deterioration library, so highly accurate qualification
Unable to determine if a sample is Capable of qualification reflecting
can be performed reflecting the state of deterioration. deteriorated plastic or another substance the state of deterioration

Contaminant Analysis (Contaminants in Processed Items)

The measurement of a light brown semi-transparent contaminant Light brown semi-transparent contaminant
on a plated item was performed. The figure below shows that the
spectral pattern of the acquired infrared spectrum differs from
the standard polyethylene (PE).
Plastic Analyzer shows the best match is heated PE. The
Thermal-Damaged Library makes it useful for surmising the The 1st PE_Heated at 250°C for 2 hrs
thermal history of the plastic. candidate

— Light brown
semi-transparent
contaminant The 2nd PE_Heated at 200°C for 2 hrs
— Polyethylene candidate

The 3rd PE_Heated at 300°C for 2 hrs
candidate

Evaluation of Deteriorated Samples

Plastics degrade as they experience molecular cleavage and cross-linking due to heat and light. As a result, in fault analysis and failure
analysis, the qualities of deteriorated samples must be analyzed.
The figure at bottom left shows the infrared spectrum of a polypropylene (PP) sample that has been irradiated with UV rays. The UV
irradiation has caused the plastic to deteriorate, and it is evident that the shape of the infrared spectrum has changed.
The figures at bottom right show the search results from measurements by Plastic Analyzer of a white plastic (PP material) that was
left outdoors for an extended period and exposed to UV rays.
The infrared spectrum of the sample exposed to UV rays White Plastic
differs from the standard spectrum. Accordingly, in general
library searches, different plastics such as polybutene are at the
top of the results. In contrast, with Plastic Analyzer, PP denatured
by UV rays is the top result.
The 1st PP_UV irradiated for 75 hrs
candidate
UV Irradiation Time
C=O 550 hrs
400 hrs
10 hrs The 2nd PP_UV irradiated for 40 hrs
0 hr candidate

O–H
The 3rd PP_UV irradiated for 50 hrs
candidate