Understanding Polymer Reactions and Degradation with FT-IR and EPR Spectroscopy

Learn about how Fourier-Transform Infrared (IR) and Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR) spectroscopies enable in-depth understanding of polymer reactions. This webinar will review two main topics:

• The curing process of polymers and how FT-IR allows for real time monitoring of kinetics and degree of cure, with calibration protocols to measure conversion percentages.
• The use of EPR spectroscopy to study radical mechanisms involved in polymerization, degradation, and stability of polymer materials.

Webinar Overview

Polymers are an integral part of everyday life, from household goods to various fields of research and industrial applications. The ability to study the formation, degradation and stability of polymers is an important endeavor in the development of materials with better performance and longevity. Join us for this informative webinar on understanding the mechanisms and kinetics of various polymer processes via Fourier-Transform Infrared (FT-IR) and EPR Spectroscopy.

The polymer curing process, from reaction kinetics to quantification of the process, is important to understand for new materials. FT-IR is highly suited for tracking the curing process due to its sensitivity to changes in functional groups We will showcase the ability of FT-IR in monitoring reaction kinetics and quantifying the degree of cure. Attendees will also gain technical insights into optimized workflows for R&D and QA environments.   Polymerization or degradation of polymer materials can often involve the formation of free radicals. The best suited method for unambiguous detection of free radicals in polymer processes is EPR Spectroscopy, which is a high-sensitivity, versatile and non-destructive technique. We will showcase the ease-of-use the Magnettech ESR5000 benchtop spectrometer and how users can incorporate workflows to identify radicals/impurities, track kinetics, and stress test polymer materials.   

What to Expect

In this webinar, we will show how FT-IR and EPR methods provide valuable information during polymer formation and degradation processes. Learn how FT-IR can track reaction kinetics in real time and provide calibration procedures for the curing process. Dive into EPR as a robust, non-destructive technique for studying radical driven mechanisms in polymer materials under diverse conditions.

Key Learning Points

This webinar demonstrates how FT-IR and EPR are suitable for studying polymer reactions and kinetics under various conditions

• FT-IR workflows for kinetics of curing and quantifying degree of cure
• Case studies using UV treated acrylates and calibration procedures for curing percentages
• EPR for tracking free radical driven processes in polymer reactions, degradation and testing of polymers exposed to various stimuli

Who Should Attend?

• Polymer chemists and researchers developing new materials
• Industry professionals working with polymer materials looking to add screening tools to their workflows
• Polymer scientists wanting to understand the radical mechanisms that drive processes such as polymerization or degradation

Presenter: Alvaro Montoya (Ph.D. in chemistry from the University of Florida, EPR Application Scientist, Bruker BioSpin)

Alvaro Montoya began his EPR career as a Ph.D. student at the University of Florida after obtaining his B.S. in Chemistry from Susquehanna University. Early in his graduate career, he made use of CW and High Field EPR in studying the catalytic mechanisms of metalloenzymes. He then grew a profound appreciation for FT EPR and expanded his EPR toolbox for his research endeavors. After completing his Ph.D., Alvaro joined Bruker in January of 2023 working as an Applications Scientist.

Presenter: Dr. Sergey Shilov (Product Manager,  Bruker Optics)

Dr. Sergey V. Shilov is a Product Manager for North America at Bruker Optics. Sergey joined Bruker in 2001. He is responsible for the support and development of new applications for the Bruker research FTIR systems. He received his Ph.D. in 1992 from the Russian Academy of Sciences in Polymer Physics and his M.S. from St. Petersburg State University (Russia) in Physics in 1986. Alexander Von Humboldt Foundation (Germany) awarded him a research fellowship in 1996. Sergey published 37 papers in peer-reviewed journals. His research interests include time-resolved FTIR spectroscopy, surface science, polymer, and life-science applications.