Rubber, plastics, and fibers

The analysis of polymeric materials requires a combination of sophisticated and complementary techniques to ensure a complete and reliable characterization. At APM, we specialize in the ‘analytical trio’—Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), and Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA)—to provide an in-depth study of rubbers, plastics, and fibers.

Pending our Dubai opening, we coordinate specialized testing programs from Italy performed at our advanced central laboratory. These methodologies provide a detailed overview of material composition and thermal behavior, offering excellence in polymer testing for the UAE industrial, biomedical, and automotive sectors. Whether for quality control or reverse engineering, our facility ensures every analysis meets the highest international standards of precision.

Organic analysis and mass spectrometry for polymers

To achieve a truly multidimensional characterization of polymeric materials, APM integrates thermal and spectroscopic data with advanced Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS / LC-MS). While FTIR, DSC, and TGA define the ‘fingerprint’ and thermal stability of a material, Mass Spectrometry allows us to identify and quantify organic substances, additives, and degradation products with extreme precision.

Pending our Dubai opening, our team coordinates this process from Italy, involving solvent extraction of analytes, chromatographic separation, and identification via spectral libraries. All analyses are performed at our central laboratory, providing UAE companies with certified results for the precise identification of substances and contaminants in materials. This technique is indispensable for the industrial and biomedical sectors in the UAE to detect:

  • Additives and Plasticizers: Ensuring chemical compliance and performance.
  • Flame Retardants: Verifying safety requirements for construction and automotive.
  • Degradation Products: Investigating failures or aging of rubbers and plastics.

This integrated analytical suite provides a complete ‘DNA profile’ of your materials, supporting process optimization and guaranteeing that your products meet the most stringent international quality standards.

Quality Assurance and Regulatory Compliance

Precision and reliability are the pillars of our analytical services. Pending our Dubai opening, all testing programs coordinated by APM strictly adhere to UNI, EN, ISO, ASTM, and DIN standards, specifically accredited according to UN EN ISO 11357-1-2-3 and UNI ISO 4650 standards. This commitment ensures our results are accurate, repeatable, and fully certifiable for industrial and research applications throughout the United Arab Emirates.

Combining cutting-edge technology and compliance, APM stands as a partner of excellence for polymer characterization. From our technical consultancy to our high-tech laboratory in Italy, we offer a comprehensive service tailored to the Middle Eastern market, providing our clients with the certainty of quality.

FTIR Spectroscopy: advanced chemical identification

FTIR spectroscopy is an indispensable tool for identifying polymer types and functional groups within a sample, providing a true chemical ‘fingerprint’ of the material. At APM, FTIR technology is enhanced by an advanced IR microscope, allowing for the analysis of extremely small samples down to a few dozen microns, according to ASTM 1252.

Pending our Dubai opening, our team coordinates technical consultancy, while physical analysis is performed at our laboratory in Italy, specialized in micro-residues and trace contaminants. This precision is vital for the UAE industrial and biomedical sectors, ensuring definitive answers even for non-homogeneous materials or microscopic failures.

DCS Calorimetry: thermal properties & material integrity

Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) is essential for mapping thermal transitions in polymers, such as melting temperature (Tm) and glass transition (Tg). Our laboratory in Italy performs these tests under UNI EN ISO 11357 accreditation, utilizing advanced instrumentation capable of operating down to –150 °C.

This technique is a powerful diagnostic tool, identifying foreign materials, recycled blends, or molding defects. Pending our Dubai opening, our technical consultancy translates these complex thermal maps into clear quality assessments for the UAE industrial and manufacturing sectors, ensuring the reliability of certified data from our European laboratory.

TGA Thermogravimetry: composition and thermal stability

Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA) completes the thermal profile by measuring sample mass changes as a function of temperature. Our laboratory in Italy performs these tests in accordance with UNI EN ISO 11358-1 standard, a fundamental method for evaluating thermal stability and chemical composition through precise quantitative breakdown.

By analyzing weight loss, we determine the concentration of volatiles, plasticizers, and mineral fillers like carbon black. Pending our Dubai opening, these analyses are crucial for the UAE industrial sector to verify material purity and ensure compliance with technical specifications under high-temperature operating conditions.

Request Your Tailored Analytical Quote

If you require high-level expertise in FTIR spectroscopy, DSC calorimetry, or TGA thermogravimetry, APM is your strategic partner in the United Arab Emirates. We offer comprehensive analytical services for polymers, rubbers, and plastics, ensuring results that are not only precise but fully compliant with international regulatory frameworks. Although laboratory operations are centralized at our advanced facility in Italy to guarantee European quality standards, pending our Dubai opening, our team ensures a rapid and seamless response. We are structured to handle urgent requests through an accelerated logistical protocol, minimizing turnaround times without compromising analytical rigor. Contact us today for a personalized consultancy and discover how our certified data can optimize your production processes and material quality in the UAE market.

Advanced Polymer Characterization: Rubbers, Plastics, and Fibers

APM provides a comprehensive suite of advanced analytical services for the characterization of rubbers, plastics, and fibers. To meet the needs of the UAE industrial landscape, we integrate specialized technical consultancy with excellence testing performed in Italy, pending the completion of our operational headquarters in Dubai.

Below is an in-depth overview of the specialized testing services available to industries across the United Arab Emirates, ensuring European analytical excellence with dedicated local support:

Fluid Resistance Testing

This test evaluates the ability of polymeric materials to maintain their structural and chemical integrity when in contact with aggressive fluids. It is a critical assessment for components in the automotive, aerospace, and oil & gas sectors in Dubai, where resistance to oils, fuels, and chemicals is paramount for safety and longevity.

Base Polymer FTIR Characterization

Using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy, we identify the specific functional groups of a material to define its unique chemical "fingerprint”, according to ASTM 1252 and the related accredited internal method MET003. This analysis is essential for the rapid identification of unknown polymers, verifying the consistency of raw material batches, and detecting significant macro-contaminations.

Micro-IR Analysis of Residues

Thanks to an advanced IR microscope, APM can analyze extremely small samples, such as residues or scraps. This characterization is essential for identifying defects or contamination in polymeric materials and ensuring the quality of the final product.

Our Italian laboratory is equipped with advanced IR microscopy that allows for the chemical characterization of extremely small samples, such as micro-residues, debris, or fragments down to a few dozen microns. This technique is indispensable for troubleshooting production defects and identifying localized contaminants in non-homogeneous materials.

DSC Thermal Analysis

Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) measures fundamental thermal transitions such as melting points and glass transition temperatures, in accordance with the accredited standards UNI EN ISO 11357-1-2-3. Our instrumentation supports testing at extreme temperatures down to -150°C, providing crucial data for materials destined for critical environments, including cryogenic applications or high-performance industrial components.

Thermogravimetric Analysis

TGA monitors the weight change of a sample as it is heated, providing a quantitative map of its composition, in accordance with the UNI EN ISO 11358 standard. It is the primary method used to determine thermal stability, the presence of volatile components, and the precise percentage of inorganic fillers, carbon black, or plasticizers within a polymeric matrix.

Shore A Hardness

Hardness is a key mechanical indicator for elastomers and soft plastics. This test measures a material's resistance to indentation using standardized equipment, in accordance with ASTM D2240 standard. It ensures that the final product meets specific rigidity requirements and performs consistently according to international industrial standards.

Filler Characterization and Quantification

By combining Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) with Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS), we analyze the morphology and chemical nature of inorganic fillers. This depth of analysis is vital for understanding how additives influence the mechanical and thermal properties of the material, often revealing details invisible to traditional testing.

Plasticizer Analysis

Using techniques such as FTIR, GC-MS, or HPLC-MS, we verify the type and quantity of plasticizers added to polymers to enhance flexibility. This analysis ensures that the material complies with specific performance requirements and stringent international safety and environmental regulations.

Residual Solvent Testing

This test identifies and quantifies any solvents that may remain trapped in the material after manufacturing or coating processes. Monitoring residual solvents is essential to prevent long-term degradation, ensure chemical safety, and maintain the aesthetic and structural quality of the final product.

Karl Fisher Moisture Content

Moisture content can severely impact the processing and properties of many polymers. The Karl Fischer titration (ISO 15512) method provides an ultra-precise measurement of water content, far exceeding the accuracy of simple loss-on-drying tests, which is fundamental for high-performance polymers and sensitive manufacturing applications.

RoHS & Flame Retardants

We perform with our Italian team specialized screenings to detect restricted flame retardants (such as PBBs and PBDEs) in compliance with the RoHS directive. This service is vital for companies in the electronics and construction sectors to ensure their products meet global environmental and safety standards.

VOC Air Sampling

Using gas chromatography, it is possible to analyze volatile organic compounds (VOCs) captured on specific adsorbent substrates. This service provides a detailed map of the substances released by materials, essential for indoor air quality assessments, emission testing, and evaluating the environmental impact of industrial polymers.

GC-MS Organic Analysis

Gas Chromatography coupled with Mass Spectrometry is the gold standard for identifying and quantifying complex organic mixtures, including oils, hydrocarbons, and specialized additives. The high separation power of the chromatographic column ensures maximum detail in identifying even trace components.

Degradation Products

This analysis studies the chemical species generated when elastomers, plastics, and rubbers are subjected to controlled thermal stress. Understanding these degradation products is key to predicting the material's lifespan, its resistance to aging, and its behavior in high-temperature industrial environments.

HPLC-MS High-Res Chromatography

High-Performance Liquid Chromatography coupled with Mass Spectrometry (HPLC-MS) is used to identify and quantify heat-sensitive or high-molecular-weight additives, such as UV stabilizers and antioxidants. This technique is indispensable for advanced reverse engineering and verifying complex material formulations.