Experiments involving the analytical chemistry of materials (with special emphasis on polymers) and surfaces are being introduced in the senior Instrumental Anaylsis course using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Diffuse reflectance and photoacoustic detection is being used to illustrate the analysis of opaque samples such as polymer fibers, coal, soil, and minerals. The analytical characterization of surface species on polymer or metal surfaces is being illustrated using specular reflectance and attenuated total reflectance. Such experiments are illustrating the power of modern spectroscopic techniques as applied to complex, heterogeneous systems and are exposing the students to problems of a very practical "real world" nature. The basics of computer controlled instrumentation is also being stressed. The experiments are using spectral substraction and normalization software routines, as well as the spectral libraries for the analysis of polymer mixtures. The grantee is matching the award from non-Federal sources.
