Multilayer Film Analysis Using the AIRsight Infrared Raman Microscope

User Benefits

- An infrared Raman microscope offers the ability to analyze a sample by both infrared spectroscopy and Raman spectroscopy without moving the stage. - Raman spectroscopy is effective for analyzing multilayer films with layers 10 µm or thinner and with inorganic compound layers. - AIRsight has a length measurement function that can measure the thickness of thin films in images from its wide-field camera and microscope camera.

Introduction

One of the roles of films used in food and pharmaceutical packaging is to maintain product quality. These films often have multiple layers, combining single-layer films to offer a variety of properties such as heat resistance, impact resistance, light shielding, and oxygen barrier properties, depending on the contents of the product. Determining the material and thickness of each layer in a multilayer film is important for the development of new film materials and quality control. This analysis can also be used for comparisons with competitor products and to study competitor products. The AIRsight infrared Raman microscope is a new microscope that incorporates a Raman unit inside an infrared microscope. Analyses that previously required two separate systems can now be performed on a single unit capable of recording both infrared and Raman spectra from the same target area without needing to move the sample. Both infrared spectroscopy and Raman spectroscopy on AIRsight are controlled from the same AMsolution software, greatly simplifying the analysis process. Infrared spectroscopy is mainly used to identify layers 10 µm or thicker, while Raman spectroscopy has the following advantages over infrared spectroscopy: (1) Excellent spatial resolution due to the use of laser light (2) Capable of analysis at low wavenumbers. These advantages enable the identification of ultra-thin layers (under 10 µm) in multilayer films and the identification of layers of inorganic compounds that have characteristic peaks in low wavenumber regions. This article describes an example application of AIRsight that uses both infrared spectroscopy and Raman spectroscopy to analyze a multilayer film packaging material.

6 de febrero de 2024 GMT