Diagnostic Radiation
Material identification using the absorption of infrared energy provides a rapid method for determining the chemical structure of organic compounds. Utilizing ftir spectroscopy allows the testing laboratory to obtain a high-resolution spectrum of a textile fiber within seconds. This optical technique measures the interferogram of the sample and converts it mathematically into a frequency-domain graph.
Molecular Identification
Specific atomic bonds in synthetic polymers vibrate at characteristic frequencies when exposed to infrared light. By comparing the resulting absorption spectrum against known polymer profiles, the system identifies the fiber type of the fabric. This method distinguishes easily between nylon 6 and nylon 66, which have very similar physical behaviors but different melting points.
The test requires only a micro-gram of fiber and leaves the remaining garment intact.
Instrument Parameter
Resolution settings and the number of co-added scans determine the clarity of the spectral output. Setting the resolution to four wavenumbers provides a balanced trade-off between speed and detail. Increasing the scan count improves the signal-to-noise ratio, which is helpful when analyzing faint surface finishes.
Factory Assessment
Quality control labs in apparel factories run spectral scans on incoming rolls to verify that the fabric composition matches the shipping invoice. If the scan reveals a polyester blend instead of pure linen, the shipment is returned to the mill. This material audit prevents mislabeling on the retail garment.