3M Analytical Services - Information and Insight
laboratory capabilities.
Equipment
Type of samples
Purpose
X-ray photoelectron (XPS) spectrometer
Solid
Analysis of the top few atomic layers of a material. Useful for material
performance issues
Fourier Transform - Infra Red Spectrometer (FT-IR)
Solid / Liquid
Used to identify materials. Spectra are searched against a database to give
a best match. eg Contamination issues
Extractive FT-IR
Gas
Real time analysis of gases.
eg Online process knowledge, stack emissions or off-gassing
Gas Chromatograph - Mass Spectrometer
(GC-MS)
Solid / Liquid / Gas
Identification and quantification of compounds. Chromatograms can be
searched against a database to give a best match
eg Ratio of components in a co-solvent cleaning bath
Canister - GC-MS
Air
GC-MS developed specifically for odour analysis. Useful for odours in
manufacturing sites or customer complaints. Whole air samples can be
“grabbed” in a steel canister
Industrial Hygiene Monitoring
Dust / Gas
ISO 17025 accredited lab for the monitoring of dust and organic
vapour monitors in the workplace eg VOC’s and pharmacueticals
Particle Counting
Solid
Determine number and size of particles contaminating components.
Also, identification of particles by FT-IR (see above)
Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) Energy Dispersive Spectrometer (EDS)
Solid
Up to x 200,000 magnification. Useful for defect analysis. EDS system
allows the elements present in the sample to be determined.
eg Investigation of staining on metal components
Optical Microscopes
including a Polarising Microscope
Solid
Magnification up to x1000. Each microscope has a digital camera to
capture images to email customers
Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC)
Solid / Liquid
Thermo Gravimetric Analyser (TGA)
Solid
Determines glass transition and melting temperatures of samples.
eg % cure of adhesive, comparison of good and bad polymers
Determines organic and inorganic composition. Inorganic residue may then be
analysed by SEM-EDS (see above) to determine the elemental composition
Thermo Mechanical Analyser (TMA)
Solid
Determines softening temperature, thermal expansion coefficient of polymers.
Provides useful information to Process Engineers
Dynamic Mechanical Analyser (DMA)
Solid
Gel Permeation Chromatograph (GPC)
Solid / Liquid
Determines molecular weight of polymers.
eg Investigate differences in viscosity between batches of polymer
UV-Visible-NIR spectrophotometer
Solid / Liquid
Obtain reflectance and transmittance data
Karl Fischer
Solid / Liquid
Determine water content of sample, either as % or ppm
Shadowgraph
Solid
Measurements of components in mm (three decimal places)
Cone Calorimeter
Solid
Determines the basic fire characteristics such as Ignition Time, Mass Loss,
Heat Release Rate and Smoke Density
Surface Energy
Solid
Determine surface energies of material to understand
different adhesive properties
LC-UV
Solid / Liquid
Quantify low level contaminants in air / water.
eg Pharmaceuticals, dyes.
LC-MS-MS
Solid / Liquid
Identify and quantify contaminants at micro levels
eg Pharmaceuticals
Instron Tensometer
Solid
Measures material and bond strength at various temperatures
Ovens and Chambers
Solid
Ovens and Chambers that allow specimens to be subjected to
extremes of temperature, humidity, corrosive atmospheres and ultra
violet radiation
Determines the physical properties such as Tan δ and modulus of solids
eg Ageing characteristics of materials
3M Analytical Services - Information and Insight
The people in front of the equipment
Nicky Bethell
(Group Leader)
• Joined 3M in 2003
• MChem from Sheffield University
Dave Harry
(Technical Specialist)
• Joined 3M in 1974
• BSc Chemistry from University
of Bristol
David Gurdon (Analyst)
• Joined 3M in 2004
• PhD in Inorganic Chemistry
• BSc in Biochemistry and Chemistry from
University of Wales, Cardiff
Simon Bushell
(Analyst)
• Joined 3M in 2000
• Studying for BSc (Hons)
Natural Sciences
Ian Clarkson
(Technical Specialist)
• Joined 3M in 1985
• BSc in Chemistry from University
of East Anglia
Damien Latron
(Senior Analyst)
• Joined 3M in 2001
• MSc in Instrumentation and Analytical
Science from UMIST
Jill Gulliver (Group Leader)
• Joined 3M in 1999
• BSc in Chemistry with Analytical Chemistry
• PhD in Photochemistry from
Loughborough University
Rosemary Jerram (Analyst)
• Joined 3M in 2003
• BSc in Chemistry with Environmental
• Chemistry from the University
of Wales, Swansea
3
Analytical Services - Information and Insight
3M United Kingdom Plc
3M Centre
Cain Road
Bracknell
Berkshire
RG12 8HT
Tel: 01344 857807
Email: [email protected]
www.3m.com/uk/analytical
July 2006