FTIR Imaging and Micro Raman Spectroscopy in Polymer Science

How do macromolecules behave in contact with solvents? How fast can dye molecules migrate through polymer chains? Are there efficient and ecological ways to colour polymeric materials? These are questions addressed to this project. Therefore, the crystallisation behaviour of some polymers in presence of solvents must be studied. Beside common solvents such as toluene or ethanol, the influence of supercritical carbon dioxide is investigated. The latter one can be removed without any residues after polymer treatment e.g. colouring of foils. It is extracted from ambient air and afterwards again released to air in pure form. So, this is an environmental friendly recycling process. This way the project does justice to the support of sustainable technologies. Our research will apply novel imaging methods based on spectroscopic techniques. These methods are founded on the fact that each material can be described through a number of special characteristics. To visualize them different colours are assigned to the intensities of a certain parameter. One recalls an infrared image, e.g. heat radiation of a house or a human body. The colour red is attributed to hot zones and cold areas appear blue. If chemical or physical parameters such as degree of crystallinity in dependence of time and space are described in the same way, answers can be given to the above questions. This could lead to the production of polymeric materials (such as plastic packaging, membranes, textiles, biomaterials, etc.) with better properties for their performance and safety. Thus, the outcome of this project may result in significant public benefit from this research.