Micro-Scan Services, Inc

Description

We provide high-resolution capillary gas chromatography with mass spectral detection. Our specialty is in the analysis of residual volatiles in polymers, pharmaceuticals, and packaging materials using a custom thermal desorption technique. The volatiles can include residual solvents, monomers, thermal decomposition products, and odor components.

We specialize in the micro-FTIR analysis of defects, contaminants, and inclusions in polymers, resins, pharmaceuticals, electronics materials, and consumer products.

Micro-Scan Services, Inc. uses an HP 5890 GC with an HP5970A Mass Selective Detector to provide GC/MS services. The mass range is from 2 to 800 AMU. The sensitivity is dependent on the compound of interest, but the equipment specification is for a 20:1 signal-to-noise ration trace with 1 nanogram (10 -9 grams) of methyl stearate delivered to the detector. This translates to about 100 nanograms injected when using a split-mode injector.

We can identify particulate or fibrous contaminants to 10 microns in diameter in extruded, cast, or blown films. Microtomy down to 1 micron thickness across gel slugs can provide samples that permit analysis of core materials. This can lead to the identification of incompatible polymers, additives, or thermally degraded material as sources of the gel mass. The resulting infrared spectra can be compared to our unique computer data-base of thermally degraded polymers and additives for positive identification.

Micro-Scan Services, Inc. offers microscopic fourier transform infrared spectroscopic analysis of both organic and inorganic components of art materials. Micro-Scan Services, Inc. is not a conservation laboratory, but it is an analytical services company specializing in sample isolation and preparation, followed by microinfrared spectroscopy. Our limiting sample size is about 10 microns in diameter, although good spectra have been obtained on particles as small as 5 microns.

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