Intertek MSG - Polymer Analysis Capabilites

High-End Polymer and Plastics Analytical Laboratory Testing Capabilities

Polymer Vibrational Spectroscopy:

• Polymer composition – qualitative and quantitative
• Product deformulation
• Polymer morphology
  • Orientation
  • Crystallinity
• Chemical imaging of heterogeneous systems
• Identification of components in structured systems – multilayer laminates, composite materials, moulded articles.
• Additive composition, fillers & pigments
• Packaging film analysis
  • Composition of multilayer structures
  • Analysis of surface coatings or treatments – composition & cure
  • Surface contamination
  • Adhesion failure – plane of failure
  • Adhesive layers
  • Surface pretreatments
• Optical properties ( UV, Visible transmission, reflectance)
• Analysis of surface coating chemistry – extent of cure
• Contamination analysis – plant, production, raw materials, additives

Polymer Surface Analysis:

• Measurement of surface properties and composition
  • Adhesive bonding (plane of failure)
  • surface chemistry
  • surface treatments
  • additive migration /surface bloom etc
  • coating characteristics
  • contamination
  • defect analysis
  • releasability
  • blockin
• Pigment/filler distribution
• Surface treatment/coatings of pigments/fillers
• Composites characterisation

Polymer NMR/Mass Spectroscopy: 

• Chemical identification
• Polymer composition
• Polymer tacticity
• End group analysis
• Molecular weight
• Molecular weight distribution
• Volatiles analysis
• Polymer sequencing
• Deformulation
• Additive analysis
• Isomer distribution
• Polymer type
• Residual monomers
• Diffusion coefficients

Polymer Separation Science (Migration Lab):

• Polymer molecular weight distribution
• Food contact materials consultancy and analysis
• Specific and overall migration from polymers
• Monomer analysis
• Polymer additives and residue identification and analysis (uv stabilisers, processing aids, volatiles, inks, species)
• Failure investigation
• Thermal degradation

Polymer Microscopy:

• Deformulation
  • Filler
  • Pigment
  • Coating
• Particle Size
• Contamination
• Fracture Investigation
• Failure Analysis
• Plane of Failure
• Phase Distribution
• Defect Analysis
• Process Improvements
• Product Quality
• Catalyst Residue
• Structural Characterisation
  • Laminate Structure
  • Layer Thickness
  • Morphology
  • Spheurulite Identification
  • Etching
  • Staining
• Chemical Imaging
  • Fluorescence Staining
• Crystallinity
• Coatings
  • Thickness
  • Continuity
• Problem Solving
  • Rapid Response
• Diffraction
• Consultancy

Polymer Melt Point

Polymer Thermal Analysis:

• Glass/ rubber transition, Tg
• Melting and crystallisation characteristics (enthalpy of fusion or recrystallisation, thermal history of the material, nucleation of polymer)
• Crystallinity studies
• Curing reactions
• Degradation in different atmospheres
• Specific heat capacity
• DSC, differential scanning calorimetry
• Stiffness and damping properties
• Modulus, storage and loss
• Glass transition temperature
• Polymer chain relaxation
• Tg
• Tan Delta
  • DMA or DMTA, dynamic mechanical analysis
• CLTE, coefficient of linear thermal analysis
• Dimensional change with temperature
• Expansion or shrinkage
• Film dimensions
• Anisotropy of change
• Softening of materials
• Tg
  • TMA, thermomechanical analysis
• Weight loss with Temperature
• Oxidative or reducing atmosphere
• Thermal-oxidative stability
• Water or volatile content
• Residue analysis after organic removal
  • TGA, thermogravimetric analysis

Polymer Inorganic Analysis:  

• Assured elemental analysis from sub-ppb to percentage levels using ICP-MS,
• ICP-OES, XRF, AAS, combustion analysers and ion chromatography
• Determination of additives, catalyst residues, fillers, lubricants, finishes and contamination for process control.
• High sensitivity raw material analyses
• Fraud protection by identifying and measuring unique trace markers
• Competitive intelligence gathering through multi-technique deformulation
• Analytical development to support catalyst replacement
• Specific migration of inorganic constituents for food contact and other applications
• Experience in polyester testing proficiency scheme
• Support for coat weight determinations on polyester film.
• Solving problems of inconsistency in the ability to meet manufacturing specifications
• Involved in the certification of trace elements in BCR polyethylene referencematerials.

Regulatory Advice and Consultancy: 

• Plastic packaging compliance statements
• Medical packaging compliance statements
• Pharmaceutical packaging compliance statements
• Cosmetic packaging compliance statements
• Risk assessment of compositions for food contact, medical and pharmaceutical applications
• Preparation of technical dossier and submission of petitions to regulatory bodies.
• REACH legislation - preparation and registration of produc
• Regulatory testing (GLP or UKAS standards)
• European and FDA: polymer testing for materials and articles in contact with food.
• Pharmacopiea/ ISO/ASTM testing for polymers for a component of a medical device.
• Method development for specific components in food and food substances.
• Plastic, rubber, cosmetic and drug deformulation and identification.
• Chemical analysis testing
• Gravimetric analysis
• Solvent extraction for identification: Plastics, rubber, textiles and adhesives. 
• pH measurement
• Measurement of peroxide content
• Surfactant: identification
• Acidity and alkalinity measurement
• Titration
• Solid phase extraction
• Moisture content of liquids and solids

Polymer Mechanical Properties: 

• Processing
  • Injection moulding
  • Small scale extrusion
  • Rheological characterisation
  • Elongational rheology
• Measurement development
  • Non-standard tests
  • Apparatus design and automation
  • High throughput experimentation
  • Application simulation
  • Instrumentation
  • Robotics 
• Mechanical Property measurement, specialising in polymers and composites
  • Standard testing (-60° to 300°C) 
  • Tensile  
  • Compression 
  • Flexure
  • Impact
  • Hardness
  • Material qualification
• Tribology
  • Scratch testing
  • Polymer friction
  • Polymer wear
  • Surface topography
  • Profilometry (3D laser and confocal)
  • Stribeck curve determination
• Adhesion
  • Peel testing (most types)
  • Work of adhesion measurement
  • Tack
• Fracture
  • Toughness measurement
  • Linear elastic fracture mechanics
  • Essential work of fracture
  • J testing
  • Paris law fatigue
• Long term testing
  • Fatigue (SN curve)
  • Paris law fatigue
  • Fatigue crack propagation
  • Creep testing
  • Creep rupture
  • Environmental creep rupture
• Specimen preparation
  • CNC machining
  • Injection moulding
  • Notching
• Hardness
  • Standard (Rockwell & Durometer - Shore)
  • Micro indentation
  • Nano indentation