An overview of high temperature micro-ATR IR spectroscopy to monitor polymer reactions

A time averaged semiclassical approach to IR spectroscopy

We propose a new semiclassical approach to the calculation of molecular IR spectra. The method employs the time averaging technique of Kaledin and Miller upon symmetrization of the quantum dipole-dipole autocorrelation function. Spectra at high and low temperatures are investigated. In the first case, we are able to point out the possible presence of hot bands in the molecular absorption line shape. In the second case, we are able to reproduce accurate IR spectra as demonstrated by a calculation of the IR spectrum of the water molecule, which is within 4% of the exact intensity. Our time averaged IR spectra can be directly compared to time averaged semiclassical power spectra as shown in an application to the CO2 molecule, which points out the differences between IR and power spectra and demonstrates that our new approach can identify active IR transitions correctly. Overall, the method features excellent accuracy in calculating absorption intensities and provides estimates for the frequencies of vibrations in agreement with the corresponding power spectra. In perspective, this work opens up the possibility to interface the new method with the semiclassical techniques developed for power spectra, such as the divide-and-conquer one, to get accurate IR spectra of complex and high-dimensional molecular systems.

Optical Properties of Bulk Single-Crystal Diamonds at 80-1200 K by Vibrational Spectroscopic Methods

Bulk diamonds show great potential for optical applications such as for use in infrared (IR) windows and temperature sensors. The development of optical-grade bulk diamond synthesis techniques has facilitated its extreme applications. Here, two kinds of bulk single-crystal diamonds, a high-pressure and high-temperature (HPHT) diamond and a chemical vapor deposition (CVD) diamond, were evaluated by Raman spectroscopy and Fourier Transform Infra-Red (FTIR) spectroscopy at a range of temperatures from 80 to 1200 K. The results showed that there was no obvious difference between the HPHT diamond and the CVD diamond in terms of XRD and Raman spectroscopy at 300-1200 K. The measured nitrogen content was ~270 and ~0.89 ppm for the HPHT diamond and the CVD diamond, respectively. The moderate nitrogen impurities did not significantly affect the temperature dependence of Raman spectra for temperature-sensing applications. However, the nitrogen impurities greatly influence FTIR spectroscopy and optical transmittance. The CVD diamond showed higher transmittance, up to 71% with only a ~6% drop at temperatures as high as 873 K. This study shows that CVD bulk diamonds can be used for IR windows under harsh environments.

High temperature ATR-FTIR characterization of the interaction of polycarboxylic acids and organotrialkoxysilanes with cellulosic material

To convey novel properties to textile surface cotton-based fabrics were impregnated with solutions containing various chemical agents, such as butane-1,2,3,4-tetracarboxylic acid or hydrolyzed organotrialkoxysilanes (3-amino)propyltriethoxysilane), (3-glycidylpropyl)-trimethoxysilane, (3-triethoxysilylpropyl)succinic acid anhydride, octyltriethoxysilane, and Dynasylan F8815 (fluoroalkylfunctional water-borne oligosiloxane). The as-prepared cotton specimens were dried and cured at elevated temperatures. As the curing process can be performed at different temperatures, the impregnated and dried cotton samples were studied by means of time-dependent ATR-FTIR spectroscopy in an attempt to get a closer insight into the process mechanism. The results make evident that the butane-1,2,3,4-tetracarboxylic acid and (3-triethoxysilylpropyl)succinic acid anhydride reacts with the hydroxyl groups of the cellulose via a five-membered cyclic anhydride intermediate which is confirmed by vibration bands appearing at 1782 cm^-1 (symmetric stretching vibration of the anhydride carbonyl group) and at 1861 cm^-1 (antisymmetric stretching vibration of the anhydride carbonyl group).