Analysis of additives in polymers by thin-layer chromatography coupled with Fourier transform-infrared microscopy

Department of Applied Chemistry, RMIT University, Melbourne, Vic. 3001, Australia
Received 10 September 2001; received in revised form 20 January 2002; accepted 25 January 2002
Abstract
A new, fast and convenient method based on coupled thin-layer chromatography (TLC) and Fourier transform-infrared
(FT-IR) microscopy is developed to separate, detect and identify the additives in polymers. After the TLC development, the
analytes were transferred on to a barium fluoride (BaF
2
) salt plate via a special capillary technique and analysed by FT-IR
microscopy.