Failure analysis of packaging materials

Packaging materials are often composed of various layers that fulfill different functions to maintain product integrity. The actual packaging foil has a barrier function e.g. against oxygen and UV exposure of the product. Typically it is laminated of different polymers and other materials like for instance aluminum. Additional layers are adhesive sealings and printing. Defects in such complex multi-layered systems like inclusions can result in product malfunctions. Since many of the different materials cannot be distinguished visually and the defects are often microscopically small the selective analysis of these defects is often difficult. The FT-IR microscope LUMOS allows to measure an IR spectrum of structures in the micrometer range at high lateral resolution. The IR spectra provide information about the chemical identity of defects and allow to distinguish between different layers. Chemical images of the sample show its composition and distribution of the defect.
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