*** Please note, each row and course# listed below is a separate, complete course. ***
Applications of FTIR & NMR Spectroscopy in Polymer Product Development (Problem Solving, Development, & IP Creation)
| Course# | Date | Time | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| 153-1386 | 11/24/2025 - 11/25/2025 | 8:30 AM - 3:30 PM | Microsoft Teams |
Online Registration
CEU's: 0.8
Instructor: Anthony Parker, Ph.D.
Course Overview
Lunch Break: 11:30 am - 1:00 pm (EACH DAY for ONLINE ONLY course offerings)
This course emphasizes the practical applications of spectroscopic techniques in real-world problem-solving situations commonly experienced in industrial work environments. Although a brief background of the two most common spectroscopic methods will be given: Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (NMR); emphases will be placed on the use of spectroscopic methods to achieve product development and process control objectives, problem solving objectives, and intellectual property creation objectives. Case studies illustrating how these techniques can be collectively used to solve industrial product development and process problems will be presented. Incorporation of spectroscopic data into statistically designed experiments for product development will also be discussed.
Audience: This course emphasizes the practical applications of spectroscopic techniques in real-world problem-solving situations commonly found in industrial work environments. The subject matter is appropriate for technical professionals and managers with academic backgrounds in all fields of polymer science, chemistry, materials science, analytical, and engineering disciplines. Although some in-depth theory will be presented, the emphases will be placed on how to incorporate the methods into strategies pertaining to product development, process development/control, and invention creation/development. Prior spectroscopic experience may be beneficial, but it is not a prerequisite for gaining an appreciation of how and when to use and apply the techniques.
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.
- Introduction
- Course Description & Objectives
- Learn the basics of FTIR & NMR techniques for use in product development.
- Learn how to use spectroscopic techniques in tandem to solve process and performance related problems – examples including composites, coatings, adhesives, polymerizations, and others.
- Understand the limitations to enable judicious application of techniques.
- Develop an appreciation for how and when to use these and other analytical techniques to assist in new product development.
- Learn how to use spectroscopy to develop intellectual property space – e.g., for drafting composition of matter and process claims, and for expanding the patent specification to allow for strategic expansion or narrowing of claim space during prosecution.
- Learn how to apply statistically designed experiments with spectroscopic responses for co-modelling with other types of responses.
- Learn to identify the relevance of spectroscopic techniques in problem solving situations.
- Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) -- General principles and advantages
- Brief overview of most common techniques for product & process development
- Solution vs. solid-state
- Surface attenuated total reflectance (SATR)
- DRIFTS
- Specular reflection
- Microscopy
- Grazing angle
- Others
- Review of Functional Group Contributions
- Examples of general applications of FTIR
- Process history & process control (monomers & polymers)
- Compositional gradients in solid polymers
- Surface exudation
- Polymer extracts
- Rates of reaction
- Extruded polymers
- Wood adhesives
- Surface coatings
- Surface chemistry
- Bio-based polymers
- Variable temperature FTIR
- Polymer structure and morphology
- Other thermosets and thermoplastics
- Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) -- General principles and advantages
- Brief overview of common techniques for product and process development
- Solution vs. solid-state
- Proton solution NMR
- Carbon-13 solution NMR
- Carbon-13 solid state NMR
- Other nuclei
- Examples of solution NMR applications
- Polymer composition & structure
- Additives & shelf-stability
- Rates of reactions & kinetics
- Dispersions
- Polymer tacticity and surface adsorption
- Copolymer structure and surface adsorption
- Others
- Examples of solid-state NMR applications
- Transitions & motions
- The nature of “plasticization”
- Mechanical correlations
- Composition, structure, and morphology
- Mechanical properties and morphology of composite materials
- Adhesion of polymers to glass
- Binders for wood composites
- IP development – patent claims using spectroscopic data
- Advantages
- Examples of claims to inventions using FTIR and NMR
- Examples of spectroscopic applications used to create claims
- Example of statistically designed experiments and modeling for product development (e.g., Taguchi) using spectroscopic responses with other co-responses
- Questions and Discussion – Analysis of specific problems from course participants