Some Practical Aspects of FT-IR/PBDS. Part II: Sample Handling Procedures

FT-IR photothermal beam deflection spectroscopy (PBDS) is truly nondestructive in that none of the sample preparation methods needed for the IR examination of solids are mandated. Such nondestructive examination is, however, inefficient—in that long scanning times are frequently needed—and is not really required with many samples. If it is permissible to subject the sample to a simple hand grinding, efficiency can be greatly improved. Sample preparation and handling are discussed, and the peculiarities of certain samples are described. Particular emphasis is placed on the necessity of proper sample handling for surface studies, data of the vacuum pyrolysis of polyvinyledene being used as example.