FTIR (Fourier Transform Infrared) capabilities cover a wide range of samples. In general FTIR identifies chemical compounds by measuring the vibrations of bonds in the molecule.

Bonds between different atoms and in different molecular environments will have frequencies (wavelengths) that are unique to that bond. By scanning the frequencies in the infrared region of the material, band positions can be used to identify the chemical identity of the material. The use of an interferometer and the Fourier transform mathematical operation have made infrared spectroscopy one of the fastest techniques for providing chemical identifications of compounds.

The Bruker Vector 33 FTIR bench and the FTIR microscope allow for analyzing gas, solid and liquid samples at a variety of sizes and concentrations. A variety of polymeric materials, powders or coated metallic surfaces can also be analyzed.

Contaminants at the 10 μm sample size can also be analyzed and photographs can be taken of the contaminant shape and surface features. Gas samples can be analyzed with 10 cm path length using the bench. Quantification of analytes in regions where the solvents are transparent can be accomplished by using liquid cells with known path lengths and by applying Beer's law. Expert interpretation of spectra and the ability to identify compounds even in multi-component mixtures is one of the features NDE Analytical offers.