Applications of FTIR in Polymer Processing & Product Development

Cost: $600 USD
Online Registration
CEU's: 0.5
Instructor: Anthony Parker, Ph.D.

Course Overview

This course emphasizes the practical applications of FTIR in real-world problem-solving situations (commonly experienced in industrial and R&D work environments), with a particular emphasis on applications of surface techniques, including surface attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (SATR), diffuse reflectance infrared spectroscopy (DRIFTS), and reflection absorption infrared spectroscopy (RAIRS). A brief background of these and other FTIR methods will be provided, followed by case studies illustrating how the techniques can be used to solve industrial process and product development problems pertaining to surface chemistry and adhesion, formulation additives and exudation, process and product control, rates of reaction and polymerization, lot-to-lot variability, effects of process history on surface composition and heterogeneity, biopolymers, metal surfaces and surface treatments, dispersions, polymer coatings, multi-layer packaging, and wood composites.

Track: Science & Engineering, Career Development

Application: Molecular Spectroscopy & Product Development

Methodology: FTIR techniques

Primary Focus: Applications, Polymers, Materials

Learning Objectives:

1. Learn how surface FTIR techniques can be applied in problem-solving situations pertaining to cure reactions, surface compositions & adhesion, process history & surface heterogeneity, material structure, component compatibility, and product/process control.
2. Learn how surface FTIR techniques can be used to study polymers, adhesives, adherends, surface treatments, neat liquids, solutions, dispersions, solid films, solid powders, thin films, and countless other multi-component systems.

Target Audience: This course emphasizes practical applications and real-world problem-solving situations (commonly found in industrial and R&D environments). The subject matter is appropriate for technical professionals and managers with academic backgrounds in all fields of chemistry. Prior FTIR experience is not required.

Ability Level: Intermediate

Online Course Requirements

We want you to have a great experience participating in our remote (online) courses, and for that, you’ll need the right equipment and internet connection.

Minimum needs are:

• A broadband internet connection that has at least a 2 Mbps upload and download speed.
• A computer (PC or Mac) that can support the latest web browser versions.
• At least 4 GB of RAM and adequate hard drive space.
• A microphone and a speaker.
• International Students: For virtual (online) courses, an additional fee will be assessed to cover the cost of shipping the professional binder (presentation slides), to your address. The cost of international shipping can be significant.

For more information, visit our Online Course Requirements webpage.

Instructor Biography:

Anthony Parker, Ph.D. is a Principal Scientist and founder of A. A. Parker Consulting, LLC. Dr. Parker has 35 years of industrial experience in research, development, and management. He has been involved in multiple start-up businesses ranging from medical devices and musical instrument strings to packaging adhesives, pharmaceutical delivery systems, and cosmetics. His interests and expertise are in the areas of surface chemistry and adhesion, bio-based materials and adhesives, mechanical properties of polymers, structure-property-process relationships in polymers, thermal analytical methods, spectroscopic methods (NMR, FTIR), UV curable coatings, and musical strings/ instruments. Dr. Parker has authored or co-authored more than 70 publications, including 30+ journal articles and technical reviews as well as 40+ patents with several patents pending.