How Chemical Analysis Labs Solve Complex Problems for Business - By: Prasad Josh

Chemical analysis and materials testing labs can help business and industry with a myriad of complex scientific and technical issues. Customized chemical testing and analytical outsourcing services can answer perplexing, yet important questions, such as:

• What is this unknown material?

• Why is my product failing?

• Why is my competitor's product failure rate lower?

• What is the source of product contamination?

• What are the ingredients of this sample?

Below are three specific examples of how materials testing and chemical analysis labs aided companies in finding a solution to a difficult problem.

Example #1 - Product Contamination Studies Find the Best Supplier
Industry: Food
Issue: Selecting the right plastic bottle supplier
Solution: For cost and safety reasons, a baby food supplier wished to change from glass jars to plastic bottles for its baby food product line. Safety concerns were paramount, since plastics can leach chemicals such as additives. The company had identified 3 plastic bottle suppliers. The challenge was to determine which plastic bottles would release the least amount of chemicals into the product. Scientists at an analytical lab conducted extractable and leachable studies by subjecting the plastic bottle to foods and temperatures equivalent to real world conditions. The leached chemicals were detected and quantified at parts per million (PPM) levels, using techniques such as liquid chromatography, mass spectrometry, and gas chromatography. The study determined the plastics packaging supplier with the safest bottles.

Example #2 - Deformulation for Competitive Product Analysis
Industry: Consumer Products
Issue: A competitor from Japan sold a superior pen
Solution: A ball-point pen manufacturer wished to determine why the ink from a Japanese competitor produced a brighter color and dried more quickly than its ink. A chemical analysis lab conducted a complete deformulation of the competing product to separate the various components using a series of solvent extractions and preparative chromatographic techniques. Identification of the ingredients was made using NMR, GC/MS and FT-IR spectroscopy. As identified by ICP-MS, the competitive product contained a metallic compound, which acted as a catalyst during the curing process causing the ink to dry quicker. The additive that was responsible for the brightness was also identified.

Example #3 - Product Failure Identification
Industry: Automotive
Issue: Auto bumper peeling and breakage
Solution: An auto manufacturer was seeing premature breakage and peeling on a polymer-based car bumper. A blend of polymers was used to manufacture the bumper. Experts analyzed the separation of layers with high-resolution microscopy techniques and saw adhesion failure at the separation site. A compatibilizer was needed to blend the polymers completely. A FT-IR analysis revealed there was no compatibilizer present in the bumper product that was failing.

About the Author

Neil Thanedar is President of Avomeen Analytical Services - one of the leading chemical analysis labs. Avomeen specializes in investigative analysis, deformulation, materials testing and scientific expert witness testimony. Avomeen's analysis experts can be reached at (800) 930-5450 or info@avomeen.com.

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