QC and product screening of ink and paint with NIRS

We encounter ink and paint on a daily basis. These materials are used for writing and printing, protection against the elements, aesthetic reasons, and so much more. Quality control (QC) of ink and paint can be done easily during all stages of production with near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy. Using NIRS for QC and screening of ink and paint is more efficient and cost-effective than other analytical methods. NIR spectroscopy is an analytical technique that uses the interaction between light and matter to determine a sample’s chemical and physical parameters. In this situation, light is described by wavelength or wavenumbers rather than the applied energy. The interaction can be measured, e.g., with the Metrohm DS2500 Liquid Analyser, which generates NIR spectra.  As NIRS is quite sensitive to the presence of some molecular functional groups, it is an ideal technique to quantify many chemical parameters. Non-volatile content, volatile organic compounds, dye content, surfactant content, and moisture can be measured simultaneously in paint or ink. Even the detection of physical parameters such as density and viscosity is possible with NIRS. 

A single NIR spectrum contains all of this information, making near-infrared spectroscopy suitable for quick multi-parameter analysis. 

Learn more in this blog post.