Lightweight, Handheld FTIR for Dedicated Field Applications

A2 Technologies (USA) has announced the availability of its newest portable FTIR system, Flexscan. Flexscan is a superior performing, mid IR spectrometer that fits in the palm of one’s hand. A2 Technologies now offers two hand-held FTIR systems, Flexscan, for dedicated field analyses, and Exoscan, for lab and field use.

Flexscan is ideal for dedicated applications that require the use of FTIR spectroscopy in out-of-lab settings. Since Flexscan’s hand-held optics weigh approximately 3 pounds, its light weight and extremely compact size is perfect for applications that require repetitive analyses on large surfaces, or in locations that are physically restricted. Flexscan is offered with a variety of sampling interfaces including diffuse, grazing angle, ATR and specular reflectance. Thus a broad range of materials can be analyzed including polished or roughened metals, polymers, composites, plastics and most other solids. Scientists and engineers involved in applications including analysis of composites and metals used in aircraft and marine vessels, analysis of minerals or soils, surface coating analysis, analysis of contamination, corrosion or oxidation of surfaces, and in a wide range of research or troubleshooting applications, will find the Flexscan a powerful ally.

Flexscan consists of two parts: an optics module that contains the source, interferometer and detector all optimally coupled with sampling optics; and a power module that contains battery and electronics. The latter module is available either belt-mounted or held by a shoulder strap. The performance of Flexscan rivals or exceeds that of far larger, traditional analytical bench top FTIR spectrometers. This is a result of a patented modulator that has extremely short internal pathlength while retaining a large optical aperture. An important benefit of this design is that the spectrometer is very rugged, making it ideal for out-of-lab use.

Graham Miller, President of A2 Technologies, comments: "With Exoscan and our other portable FTIR analysers, we proved that there is a strong requirement to take FTIR out of the laboratory. Furthermore, our customers showed us that there is a glaring need for a dedicated hand-held system with the performance of Exoscan and a form factor and weight conducive to analyses that require multiple measurements over a large area or surface, as well as for measurements in hard to access locations. Thus, we developed Flexscan."