Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 28, 2025

Author Spotlight: Advances in Nanoscale Infrared Spectroscopy to Explore Multiphase Polymeric Systems
Published on: June 23, 2023
Temperature-Dependent Infrared Refractive Index of Polymers from a Calibrated Attenuated Total Reflection Infrared
Md S Azam1, Malcolm D Ranson1, Dennis K Hore1,2
1Department of Chemistry, 8205University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada.
Abstract:
We demonstrate a straightforward method by which a commonly available reference sample such as water can be used to calibrate an attenuated total internal reflection infrared absorbance measurement in order to account for the polarization of the beam incident on the internal reflecting element, and the spread of angles about the nominal angle of incidence. This enables quantitative comparison of attenuated total reflection-derived absorbance data with spectra calculated from optical constants. We then apply this calibration to the measurement of temperature-dependent absorption spectra of a polydimethylsiloxane sample. We illustrate that the extracted optical constants scale with the temperature-dependent changes in the polymer density better than the raw absorbance values on vibrational resonance.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Attenuated Total Reflectance (ATR) Infrared Spectroscopy: Overview
The ATR process begins by directing a beam...
IR Spectrometers
Infrared (IR) Spectroscopy: Overview
Different compounds display unique properties due to their...
Polymer Classification: Crystallinity
Crystalline domains are the regions where polymer chains are aligned in an orderly manner and held together in proximity by intermolecular forces. For example, chains in the crystalline domains of polyethylene and nylon are bound together by van der Waals...
Polymer Classification: Stereospecificity
Polymers: Molecular Weight Distribution

